For the past couple of years, the music I listen to most often has been the kind that grows on you slowly but steadily, eventually turning into a long love affair that rewards with every listen. But there’s something to be said for instant gratification. And that’s what you’ll get with Passenger’s All the Little Lights. Singer/songwriter Mike Rosenberg is a UK born singer that has found major success in Australia and has gone from busking to selling out concerts with his simple and endearing style. At first, I was turned off by Rosenberg’s thick British accent but that quickly wore off and his light-hearted folk-pop became quite charming. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Passenger became a big success in North America. What fourteen-year-old girl wouldn’t want a poster of a cute Brit with an acoustic guitar staring at them as they hug their pillow? If he writes a song about how “you” are beautiful or amazing despite being physically repulsive, he could be the next James Blunt or Bruno Mars. But I digress.
All the Little Lights certainly has its moments but the disc is cohesive at the expense of being homogenous. “Things That Stop You Dreaming” has subtle synths and strings that help the song to resonate. “Let Her Go” has a melody guaranteed to make you sing along. The single, “The Wrong Direction,” is sweet and playful with some nice Beirut-sounding trumpet. It’s too bad that after six or seven tracks I knew where he was going with the rest of the album. Rosenberg is a talented lyricist and he has a good ear for melody but it’s a clean cut and predictable album that will find its audience among those who haven’t discovered Kathleen Edwards yet. (Nettwerk, passengermusic.com) Matthew Dyck