Justin Nozuka — Holly

Hailing from a musical family — brother George has already made it to #1 on the MuchMusic countdown — Justin Nozuka is taking the road less travelled with his debut album. After refusing a deal with Universal, the 19 year old instead chose the DIY approach. That same maturity permeates his songs. Emotional folk-pop is hard to pull off with sincerity, especially for a teenager, but Nozuka accomplishes it effortlessly. While there are a few cringe-worthy songs, like the pseudophilosophical "If I Gave You My Life," most of the record is full of soulful, sophisticated songs that have sharp hooks and genuine lyrics. Nozuka's voice is the main draw on "Golden Train" and "After Tonight." It has Ben Harper's raspy R&B crackle and Jason Mraz's pitch-perfect pop sensibility. This young singer-songwriter is definitely on the right track with this captivating effort.

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