I admit it. I became a fan after listening to him on the radio extolling the virtues of New Shoes. It's a bit embarrassing to admit because, well, that song was absolute pop and not terribly deep but damn it, it was catchy! I bought the album These Streets and played it incessantly until one day, I was over it. I actually didn't listen to it at all. If my iPod was on shuffle and one of the songs came on, I'd skip it. I think I'd overplayed it. And eventually I was fairly sure I was over that kind of music and in turn him.
When his sophomore album Sunny Side Up came out, I took notice, but then proceeded to ignore it. I felt I'd moved on musically. I can't honestly remember what it was that made me change my mind and give the album a try. Maybe it's the fact that once I like an artist, they have to be pretty bad for me to give up on them entirely and not listen to their other work. I'm just always curious what they're up to. The fact was, I still loved his voice- deep, gravelly and evocative. Even if he sounds like an eighty year old man, when he sings, you feel the emotion.
First of all, I couldn't believe this new album was by the same person who sang New Shoes. The voice was the same, sure, but the music was an entirely different thing. And that wasn't a bad thing. It was bits of Otis Redding (No Other Way, Coming Up Easy), with New Orleans (10/10 and Pencil Full of Lead) with some other sounds I couldn't really name. I realized there were probably going to be a lot of fans who would not be on board with this change, but as far as I was concerned, it was a change that would keep me interested. Admittedly though, I didn't take to the entire album right away. I genuinely liked a handful of songs and worked at liking the rest.
When I saw he'd be performing at The Wiltern, I don't know what made me decide to get tickets but I did. I went hesitantly, not entirely sure what to expect but thinking I had an idea: A bunch of clean-cut, twenty-something trendy/artsy looking kids and Paolo, maybe on a stool with his guitar. Yeah, I don't know why the stool, it's just what I pictured, what can I tell you? Anyway, it turned out that idea was completely wrong.
His band is comprised of an interesting mix of musicians: A couple of scruffy, bearded guys, a good looking trumpet/sax player with slicked back hair who as far as I can tell always dresses in slacks, button down shirts and dress shoes, and who may just have jumped out of an fifties movie, and a much older gentleman playing the harmonica who for all appearances could have toured with Johnny Cash, back in the day. But appearances aside- they were great musicians with a high level of energy.
It was a concert that I'm sure made fans out of people who didn't even know the music. When they played certain of the more upbeat songs of Sunny Side Up, it felt like a party or being in the middle of a parade. People were happily dancing, clapping, bouncing around, smiling. Even the songs from These Streets had been re-worked to fit in better with the new music. I've read Paolo is not crazy about his previous album either, so he tweaks the old stuff where he can, and it works!
The concert really surprised me and made a much bigger fan out of me than I was before. I went home and actually listened to These Streets, which has grown on me again--it is a good album. But mainly I'm quite in love with Sunny Side Up. I can't seem to stop listening to it and maybe I'll overplay this one too, I don't know. It's been months though, and I'm still happily playing it and singing along at the top of my lungs.
It would seem Mr. Nutini has moved on musically and I am now prepared to move right along with him.
This is not one of the catchier songs, however, it was the first one with a lyric that jumped out at me and I'm still not tired of; the title of this post: It was in love I was created and in love is how I hope I die. It comes all the way at the end, but it's fun, and totally worth waiting for it.
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