Long Way Down
After a BRIT Critics’ Choice Award and a handful of well-received singles, Tom Odell released his first full-length record, *Long Way Down*—a dazzling showcase of the young singer/songwriter’s musical talent that debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart. With a mix of stirring vocals and impassioned piano playing, the 22-year-old Odell digs deeply into his tortuous relationships, conveying both early euphoria (“Grow Old With Me”) and inevitable heartbreak (“Supposed To Be”) with disarming honesty. As mesmerizing as he is on haunted tracks like “Another Love”—his regret boiling to a furious crescendo he can barely contain—songs like “Till I Lost” show he can also belt out a sweeping chorus with a flair worthy of Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Yet even at its most quiet and introspective, Odell’s voice is one you can’t turn away from.
Not only does it feel like a one trick pony but this is surely one of the most self-indulgent records that will see the light of day in 2013.
The brooding and bloodied Romeo to Jake Bugg's blue collar Brit-pop Lothario, sad sack English crooner Tom Odell's intimate, soul-searching ballads draw from an awfully deep well of ruin, especially for a man barely into his twenties.
The young singer wears his heart on his sleeve but needs to broaden his emotional range, says<strong> Killian Fox</strong>
Tom Odell is yet to find his voice, but his Waterboys/Dylanesque songwriting shows some promise, writes <strong>Dave Simpson</strong>
Tom Odell's new album justifies the hype with its walloping big tunes and tales of reckless romance, says Helen Brown.
The 22-year-old from Sussex is not quite as mawkish as some suggest. CD review by Russ Coffey