Review: Eliza Doolittle

The British blitz continues with some Eliza Doolittle! As seen on The Ram

UK release July 12, 2010 Parlophone Records

Not to be confused with the fictional character of the same name, Eliza Doolittle is making waves across the pond. A little more real but no less Cockney than her fictional counterpart, Doolittle is one of Britain's young rising stars.  Her self-titled debut album has reached top three status in the UK and has entered the top ten in Ireland. Her singles "Skinny Genes" and "Pack Up" have also achieved chart success.

Doolittle's debut album is definitely a good one for fans of easy listening. Thirteen tracks strong, the album delivers a good mix of upbeat and mellow tracks that showcase her songwriting and vocal abilities. Each track plays to her strengths, and possess a very retro feel to them, while at always staying relevant. Her first two singles "Skinny Genes" and "Pack Up" are two of the stronger cuts off the album, but it is the fifth track titled "Mr. Medicine" that I think is the stand-out song on the record. "Police Car" and "Rollerblades" are also songs of note, but overall, her album is a satisfying one. Nothing about it is groundbreaking, but it is a sufficient introduction for the 22-year-old into mainstream pop.

While I feel like she will struggle to gain much notice in America compared to her native UK, Doolittle is still a very good artist, and worth a listen. She brings a unique sound, which can be described as a mix of Lily Allen's playfulness with Norah Jones' sophistication. A quick search on YouTube will generate tons of videos of her, and I honestly think that with a little bit of exposure and distribution, she can win over an American audience in the same vein as The Ting Tings or Natasha Bedingfield. Doolittle's debut effort is a good one, and should see her gain sustained success in the UK. Whether she'd be able to achieve crossover success is the big question. One thing's for sure; I'll be one of the people who'd welcome her music to American radio with open arms.

Check out her hit, "Pack Up"