Alec Ounsworth may have a voice that makes Bob Dylan sound like Frank Sinatra, but on Mo’ Beauty, he reveals a bluesy sensibility with enough vibrancy to make even Thom Yorke tap his toes. The Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman has crafted a solo debut immediately distinguishable from the work of his main band.
Mo’ Beauty is more buoyant, jazzy, and organic than a CYHSY outing—trading in synthesizers for wailing horns and dulling the more abrasive edges of Ounsworth’s cacophonous tendencies. But rest assured, indie kids, there are still enough shrill vocals and abstruse lyrics to scare away the major labels.
Voice’s Choices: “Modern Girl (with Scissors),” “This Is Not My Home,” “Idiots in the Rain”
