Young R&B/soul phenom Eli “Paperboy” Reed is the real deal, turning out retrofied songs so classic and good that it is hard to believe that Come and Get It wasn’t made in the 60’s heyday. Reed gives a nod to some of the era’s greats like Frank Lynch, whose “Young Girl” opens the album, setting the tone for the eleven upbeat, toe-tapping numbers written by Reed that follow. Reed, who as a teen moved to the Mississippi Delta and whose nickname refers to the newsboy hat he is often seen wearing, defies the label of neo-soul, channeling the sounds of legends like Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding. Reed’s appeal lies in his uncanny ability to create and belt out songs that hit just the right note in terms of tone, conviction, production values, and authenticity, much in the way Sharon and the Dap Kings do, and his talent is recognized in his first major label debut with Capitol Records. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Sam Cooke, James Hunter, Kings Go Forth, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings