Review: Troubadour Vance Joy delivers on 'Nation of Two'
Vance Joy
Vance Joy   " Nation of Two " ( Atlantic ) If ukuleles make their way back onto the pop charts   you can probably thank  Vance Joy  . The Australian singer - songwriter delivers an exciting sophomore effort with " Nation of Two  " a 13 - track collection in which he proves he isn ' t too cool to play a little uke   banjo or even that guitar - ukulele hybrid known as a guitalele .  Joy    born James Keogh   had a breakout hit with 2013 ' s ukulele - led " Riptide " and became the opening act for Taylor Swift . This is his time to really shine — and he seizes it . The sensitive strummer links up with several veteran songwriters — including three tunes with Dave Bassett and three with Dan Wilson — for an album of very personal love songs .  Joy  is all over the CD   writing or co - writing every song and even contributing to the cover art . The clear standout track is the alt - rock anthem " We ' re Going Home " but other beauties include the uke - led ditty " Saturday Sun  " the slow - burning " Alone With  Me  " and the achingly beautiful " I ' m With You ." If you yearn for music by Mumford & Sons   The Lumineers and even early Ed Sheeran   these are your jams — earthy   folky and honest . Joy ' s songs are nicely not overly produced   allowing a little charming vocal strain every once in a while . Joy ' s co - writers tend to elevate his songs into something a bit more substantial   whether it ' s with a brass section or strings   pushing him to go bigger . The four tunes he is credited with writing alone are clearly the weakest   but also the most personal . It all adds up to an appealing album from an artist with a promising future . " Won ' t you take your time on me ?" he sings in one song   and it seems absolutely rude not to . ___ Mark Kennedy is at http :// twitter . com / KennedyTwits The Associated Press .
[TGT] Nation of Two " ( Atlantic ) If ukuleles make their way back onto the pop charts   you can probably thank  [TGT]. The Australian singer - songwriter delivers an exciting sophomore effort with " Nation of Two  " a 13 - track collection in which he proves he isn ' t too cool to play a little uke   banjo or even that guitar - ukulele hybrid known as a guitalele .  [TGT]    born James Keogh   had a breakout hit with 2013 ' s ukulele - led " Riptide " and became the opening act for Taylor Swift . This is his time to really shine — and he seizes it . The sensitive strummer links up with several veteran songwriters — including three tunes with Dave Bassett and three with Dan Wilson — for an album of very personal love songs .  [TGT]is all over the CD   writing or co - writing every song and even contributing to the cover art . The clear standout track is the alt - rock anthem " We ' re Going Home " but other beauties include the uke - led ditty " Saturday Sun  " the slow - burning " Alone With  Me  " and the achingly beautiful " I ' m With You ." If you yearn for music by Mumford & Sons   The Lumineers and even early Ed Sheeran   these are your jams — earthy   folky and honest . [TGT] songs are nicely not overly produced   allowing a little charming vocal strain every once in a while . [TGT] co - writers tend to elevate his songs into something a bit more substantial   whether it ' s with a brass section or strings   pushing him to go bigger . The four tunes he is credited with writing alone are clearly the weakest   but also the most personal . It all adds up to an appealing album from an artist with a promising future . " Won ' t you take your time on me ?" he sings in one song   and it seems absolutely rude not to . ___ Mark Kennedy is at http :// twitter . com / KennedyTwits The Associated Press .