By: Emily J Ramey

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Eli “Paperboy” Reed drew my attention the moment I saw his new album Come and Get It categorized as “rock” but his voice compared to those of Michael Bublé, Aretha Franklin, and Harry Connick, Jr.  That combination alone is enough to spur a little research.

It turns out that the man’s devoted his life to developing his talents, gathering influences and garnering musical prowess all over – from a Boston high school band room to a Mississippi Delta juke joint, from Sunday morning gigs behind the organ at a tiny South Side Chicago church to headlining the coolest clubs in Brooklyn with his red-hot band.  Okay, I’m convinced.  This guy is worth a listen.

From the first notes of Come and Get It to the last, Eli “Paperboy” Reed has hypnotized me into thinking I’m some kind of Foxy Cleopatra character, foot-tappin’ and groovin’ like I’ll just die if I don’t.  Reed has skillfully collected a series of bold, colorful tracks, light on subject matter and heavy on dazzling instrumentation and natural soul.

“Young Girl” is a tribute to little-known Boston soul singer Frank Lynch, who died tragically just as his career looked like it would take off with the release of this song.  The Paperboy version is sparkling and animated, a fantastic opener.  “Name Calling” boasts some gleaming guitar work and Reed’s smart, signature turns of phrase: “You went from name calling to calling my name/You went from schoolyard teasing to all night pleasing.”

The album’s title track is glossy and high-powered, an immediate favorite.  Who can resist funky falsetto, singing lyrics like, “If you want the love of a man, you got to get with it./And all my love will come tumbling down?”  And the album closer revs the engines again with a thunder-and-lightning sort of performance: “An atomic bomb got nothing on me/Just pull the pin, and then you’ll see.”

Eli “Paperboy” Reed is an exciting newcomer to the mainstream.  His modern take on such golden vintage soul is incandescent and refreshing.  Now where’re my afro wig and go-go boots?

Emily J Ramey is a burgeoning young music writer, living and working in Nashville, TN. Her background includes journalism classes at New York University and a Music Business degree from Belmont University. Check out her blog at listenerextraordinaire.wordpress.com.