The simple man with a guitar and a song to sing combination is tried and true. But, in a world gone electronic, making folk pop isn't that simple. So, when an artist like 26-year-old Vance Joy comes along with his acoustic-tinged jams that put most of the formulaic tracks on the radio to shame, you listen.
His debut LP, Dream Your Life Away (out now), is a lush 13-track collection of radio-friendly guitar jams with the heart of your favorite indie singer/songwriter. The first single, "Riptide," bubbles over with late-summer vibes. "Mess Is Mine" rides the poppy acoustic wave for all its worth. "All I Ever Wanted," however, is effortlessly chill. Packed with solid lyrics and a nostalgic chords, it's one of those acoustic tracks made for love-laced mixtapes.
It's enough to make you want to unplug from the 808-bump for a little bit.