Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up

Anyone who caught Paolo Nutini’s numerous festival appearances in 2007/8 will have witnessed his rendition of the Disney song I Wanna Be Like You. Saturated with his distinctive vocal inflections (strangled vowels, mumbling, honking), it appeared nothing more than an ironic cover, the staple set-padding of every young pup prematurely promoted to main stage. With Sunny Side Up as perspective, however, it seems an unwitting nod to his simplified, hero-aping attempts at assorted musical styles. 10/10 is end-of-the-pier ska, the skiffle bounce of Lead in My Pencil could soundtrack a particularly annoying probiotic yoghurt advert, while No Other Way is his attempt at an Al Green-style showstopper, but all lack the charm that first brought him fame. That said, Nutini remains amiable enough in small doses - which no doubt means this’ll sell millions, he’ll headline Glastonbury 2010, and will continue singing about being “just like the other men” without a trace of irony.