Damion Soumi

A healthy dose of cynicism and humour adds some much-needed levity to the weighty songs on this Floridian's debut album. Soumi walks a fine line between country crooner and Irish folk singer, sounding at times like a combination of Matt Good and Michael Stipe belting out songs about drinking and the evils of love. Songs like "San Francisco" contain a simple but effective percussive element that anchor them, while tracks like "Save Your Ass" utilize Soumi's soaring voice to invoke some serious emotions without sounding hyperbolic. If you enjoy a splash of folk in your record collection this is definitely an album you should pick up.