Kodaline: In a Perfect World

They have been touted as the next big thing in several high- profile polls, but the truth is that Kodaline are a bit drab – or at least their debut album is. The Dublin four-piece take one sentiment (love) and painfully stretch it across 11 predictable songs. Both musically and lyrically, Kodaline draw from the same well of insincere syrup as Ed Sheeran, using acoustic guitar and piano to hawk the predictably wistful sway of One Day and the tearjerking single, All I Want. Their Coldplay-aping attempts at stadium rock (Brand New Day) and Mumford and Sons-style folk-rock romps (Way Back When, Love Like This) are pretty convincing, but it sounds like Kodaline are more focused on ticking boxes in order to appeal to their target audience, than on blazing their own trail by attempting something original. Kodaline.com
Download: Brand New Day