Pop/Rock

The Pop/Rock music of the week reviewed...

Duke Special

Little Revolutions

Reel to reel ****

Duke Special is currently wowing the crowds on stage in Deborah Warner's National Theatre prodution of Brecht's Mother Courage, which is fitting for such a theatrical performer, especially one whose admiration for Brecht's work with Kurt Weill has been evident for a while. This collection of rarities and B-sides should delight Duke's fans, and even win over some new converts. His collaborations with fellow Northern Irishman Neil Hannon are among the album's highlights, notably the jaunty Our Love Goes Deeperand a rollicking live version of Tainted Love. Some of the covers are more successful than others – his take on Radiohead's Luckyis great, though Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Mapslacks the original's power. But while some of the original tracks are a bit vaudeville- by-numbers, this is still a treasure trove of hidden gems. ANNA CAREY

Download tracks: Our Love Goes Deeper, Lucky

Charlie Winston

Hobo

Real World Recordings ***

If you thought that the days of modern acoustic guitar heroes ended with Damien Rice, you’d be wrong. Charlie Winston, the “Big in France” brother of the “Big in Ireland” Tom Baxter, is one of several carrying on the tradition of strummed love songs and heartrending piano ballads.

His aptly titled second album is an assortment of sentimental hobo-folk tunes bolstered by organic production and a polished backing band. The swarthy-voiced songwriter’s attempts at social commentary (

Generation Spent

) won’t be bothering Billy Bragg any time soon, and its gentle acoustic heartbeat occasionally flatlines through sheer dullness, but there’s a likeability about some of these songs, particularly the catchy, scuffed pop of

Like a Hobo

, that will appeal to fans of Paolo Nutini, Newton Faulkner, and yes ...even Tom Baxter.

LAUREN MURPHY

www.charliewinston.com

Donwload tracks:

Like a Hobo, Kick the Bucket