George Ezra - Wanted on Voyage (Expanded Edition) (2014) [Hi-Res]

With his smoky baritone and lyrics about wanderlust, romance, and European boot leather, British singer/songwriter George Ezra offers up a 21st century pop take on the wandering young troubadour with his debut LP Wanted on Voyage. Though he cites influences like Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly, Ezra's music has more in common with the contemporary folk-pop of strummers like Vance Joy and Jake Bugg, with a bit of blue-eyed soul thrown in for good measure. Scrappy romps likes "Cassy O'" and his breakout track "Budapest" sit alongside quirky, synth-laden indie pop tunes like "Stand by Your Gun" and moody dirges like "Spectacular Rival," offering up enough diversity to keep things interesting. ~ Timothy Monger