Quick facts… He is on record stating that one of the strangest things that has ever happened to him was a couple of people fainting while he was on stage performing, leading to him wondering if he’s really that bad. Fortunately, 21-year old George Ezra kept singing, releasing 2 EP’s before this, the release of his first full-length studio album.

His break-through hit, Budapest, can be heard everywhere and is just a taster of what to expect from the full album that we’re already listing as one of our top 10 albums of 2014. So what is Budapest about? In his own words in an interview with www.swide.com: “I’ve never been to Budapest, actually. That’s the whole point of this song. Things that I don’t have or I would give up for somebody. Years ago I was meant to go to Budapest during a trip around Europe, but I didn’t make to it, and I really wanted to see it. I still love singing that song. I think it’s a very natural song. Honest.”

Best tracks… Budapest, Cassy O, Blame it on me and Breakaway.

What others have to say… “His deep, gritty voice sounds like a grizzled blues veteran from the 1920s rather than that of a 21-year-old from Hertfordshire, and there are times on this debut album where he sounds like those noted teen stars Nick Cave or Bob Dylan.” www.musicomh.com

What we have to say… We are really struggling to take this CD out of the player, it’s that good. A fresh sound and intelligent lyrics will make this top many a critic’s list of the stand-out albums of the year, including ours.

It makes us wanna… “Start a fan-club.”  

In his own words… In an interview with www.coupdemainmagazine.com, George was asked what he hopes people would take away from listening to his music: “The only thing you can ever ask for is that, like what I was saying with memories, that somehow my music can fit into somebody's memory. If it can be the soundtrack to somebody's happy days then that would be amazing.”

Score… Turn the volume up to 9