Wanted On Voyage (Deluxe)

George Ezra’s breakthrough single—the deliriously catchy, bohemian anthem “Budapest”—established that the singer/songwriter was gifted well beyond his years. Ezra’s debut full-length, Wanted on Voyage, is an impressive showcase of Ezra’s well-rounded talent for channelling elements from revered ’60s folk-rock songs into a refreshingly original brand of swaying, roots-influenced pop. Although his expressive baritone may be the album’s most immediately striking feature, the carefully crafted lyrics and sweeping melodies of soulful offerings like “Leaving It Up to You” and “Did You Hear the Rain?” fill the album with rewarding, blues-inflected highlights. The stomping backbeat of “Cassy O’”—another lovestruck road anthem driven by jangling acoustic guitars—recaptures the ambling, hook-driven charm of his breakthrough single.