There's a constant stream of nice geezers with guitars; David Gray, Damian Rice, that Newt bloke, the little ginger one and of course the universally derided James "rhyming slang" Blunt. So you have to ask, but do we really need another strummer?
On the basis of this album yes I think we do. Released only last year its hard to imagine why it's not been a bigger hit. The Radio 2 crowd should be lapping this up.
A LITTLE BRIGHTER is not particularly fresh or original sounding. Maybe that's the problem. But although he's not reinventing the wheel, Welshman Pete Lawrie is a fantastic song-writer in the classic mould. His voice has a warm but lived-in quality like a David Gray who's smoked far too many Marlboro Reds. It's got the same rough edge as fellow welsh boy Kelly Jones from The Stereophonics.
His songwriting style reminds me of great songs off Richard Ashcroft's first solo album, but thankfully Lawrie lacks the ego and massive chip on the shoulder. Unlike Ashcroft he doesn't believe is music's Messiah, our boy Pete is thoroughly down to earth. A LITTLE BRIGHTER is refreshingly angst free but melody heavy and contains 12 carefully crafted upbeat songs.
The album opens well with an feelgood triple salvo of great songs: 'In The End', 'All The We Keep', 'How Could I Complain?' but the quality continues throughout.
It's poppy acoustic led with the occasional strings which elevate the songs above a busk. He rocks moderately, but that's fine. We can't all be swaggering rock stars. Sometimes it's nice just to hear nice songs from nice people.
So nice work Mr Lawrie.
'IN THE END'
'HOW COULD I COMPLAIN'
'ALL THAT WE KEEP'
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