Album review: Eli 'Paperboy' Reed, 'Come and Get It!'
2 stars (4 stars)
What makes Eli “Paperboy” Reed more tolerable than many retro acts is his sheer enthusiasm. His story is one of boyhood obsession. The Massachusetts native went from poring over his parents’ record collection to studying at the feet of the Mississippi blues masters; he also sang gospel while attending the University of Chicago. He projects his appreciation for vintage soul – particularly the gritty, horn-inflected Stax Records sound of the ‘60s – as if he were a kid imitating Otis Redding in front of the bedroom mirror. He never roars, he yelps. He doesn’t swagger, he skips. The boyish ardor is magnified by original songwriting that emphasizes cleverness (“You went from name-calling to calling my name”) over emotional depth. Reed’s second major-label album, "Come and Get It!" (Capitol), is loaded with terse, catchy pop-soul songs outfitted with sharp horn riffs, taut guitar fills and bouncy bass lines. It’s all done well enough. But when he slows down and attempts a ballad such as “Pick Your Battles,” Reed’s gusto is no longer enough to mask his limitations as a singer.
What makes Eli “Paperboy” Reed more tolerable than many retro acts is his sheer enthusiasm. His story is one of boyhood obsession. The Massachusetts native went from poring over his parents’ record collection to studying at the feet of the Mississippi blues masters; he also sang gospel while attending the University of Chicago. He projects his appreciation for vintage soul – particularly the gritty, horn-inflected Stax Records sound of the ‘60s – as if he were a kid imitating Otis Redding in front of the bedroom mirror. He never roars, he yelps. He doesn’t swagger, he skips. The boyish ardor is magnified by original songwriting that emphasizes cleverness (“You went from name-calling to calling my name”) over emotional depth. Reed’s second major-label album, "Come and Get It!" (Capitol), is loaded with terse, catchy pop-soul songs outfitted with sharp horn riffs, taut guitar fills and bouncy bass lines. It’s all done well enough. But when he slows down and attempts a ballad such as “Pick Your Battles,” Reed’s gusto is no longer enough to mask his limitations as a singer.
-- Greg Kot
greg@gregkot.com