Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Finally! It seems like I’ve been waiting for an album like Jamie Scott and the Town’s Park Bench Theories for a while now to pick me up from these end-of-summer blues. Class may be in session, but there’s far more important lesson to be taught here with Jamie Scott’s finely crafted debut. Fresh out of the UK (common theme these days), Scott combines his infectious pop sensibilities with funky jazz piano riffs and a powerful set of vocals to deliver an uptempo, thoroughly enjoyable effort that is sure to top out as one of the best albums of the year (’tis true, I don’t lie).

But let’s not mistake something as joyous as Park Bench Theories for that which lacks coherence or focus. Scott is a masterful troubadour, flirting with James Blunt comparisons but yet drawing comparisons to the dynamicism of an Elton John or-for a more recent reference-a Paolo Nutini. As the album title might suggest, Scott’s music listens more like a diary, the listener being let in on a collection of one singer-songwriter’s view on daily life. The lush arrangements certainly take the ordinary and turn them into interesting works of art, appealing to a wide range of generations and genres. “Two Men” is a Jamie Cullum-esque number that is so gentle and sweet, it’s hard not to fall in love with this track. Or the funky-fresh “Lady West” is a feel-good ditty that features a pretty mean horn solo. The slightly more urgent-sounding “London Town” is also excellently done, ripe with a fantastic piano accompaniment.

So, take my word for it. Go and check out Jamie Scott and the Town’s Park Bench Theories. For some more tracks, check out his myspace.

Listen to “Lady West” (4.9/5)

Listen to “London Town” (4.9/5)