Chances are you’ve already heard George Ezra’s breakout single, “Budapest,†a minimalist love song that lures you in with its enchanting subtleties.
The young Brit — whose distinctive, bass-baritone voice may rival that of ’90s-era band Crash Test Dummies — played the international hit to much acclaim on Saturday Night Live and parlayed that buzz into a well-received gig at Coachella in April.
Ezra kicks off his debut album, Wanted on Voyage, with the snappy guitar strum of “Blame It on Me,†which builds like a train picking up steam. In fact, many of the album’s tunes, including “Cassy O’†and “Did You Hear the Rain?†— a blues romp you can imagine belonging in a Tarantino western — follow a similar trajectory, mounting from “foot stomps and clicks and claps†to driving guitar and gospel choirs. Continue reading…