Paddy Casey: Songbook

Songbook: The Best of
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Artist: Paddy Casey
Genre: Singer / Songwriter
Label: Sony

Success came relatively quickly for Paddy Casey in the late Nineties – but a decade later, so did the ubiquitous "label trouble". Nonetheless, with four consistent albums to draw on, there's a liberal smattering of sharp, sweet folk-pop, brass-embellished soul and radio-friendly pop-rock in the Dubliner's canon. Songs from his debut Amen (the sparse Sweet Suburban Sky, the wheezy bounce of Whatever Gets You True) still hit the spot; the dreamy Bacharach-esque string embellishment of Addicted to Company is gorgeous, while megahit Saints and Sinners remains irritatingly infectious. Yet Casey's penchant for over-production is palpable, while new song Out of Control is clunky and flat. Overall, it's a mixed bag that errs on the side of agreeable. paddycasey.com

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy is a freelance journalist and broadcaster. She writes about music and the arts for The Irish Times