Paolo Nutini “Candy”
Three years after edging his way into the popular UK singer-songwriter circle armed with an intriguing, Scottish brogue-bathed white-soul vocal; a slightly scruffy, pretty boy look; and a couple of fine single offerings (the achingly romantic ballad “Last Request” and the feel-good “New Shoes”), Paolo Nutini returns to kick off that much intimidating sophomore round with this first glimpse of his upcoming Sunny Side Up LP.
On “Candy”, relationship strife is the central theme, with Nutini taking note of his current position as only a “stain there on (her) bedsheets” to the pleasant tune of a guitar-strummed breeziness. But while he’s all too aware of the “writings on the wall”, Paolo still isn’t willing to bring their union to a close, belatedly promising a day of pampering (“Darling I’ll bathe your skin/ I’ll even wash your clothes”) in hopes of attaining at least one last sampling of her “candy”.
Eventually, all this yearning builds into a thunderous finale in which he repeatedly exclaims “I’ll be there waiting for you”, effectively registering as hopeless cries towards a target that’s fading farther and farther off into the distance.
Yeah, “Candy” might require a few listens to gain a full appreciation of Paulo’s lyrics and the arrangement’s summer-toned ease, but once it does grow familiar, it emerges as a graceful entry that’s enticing enough to bring interest into how else his artistry has matured throughout the new album.
Sunny Side Up drops June 2nd.
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