Sam Sparro

Sam Sparro's debut album is a remarkably assured effort. On first glance, Sparro's identity as a white and gay soul singer could seem like a sales pitch (gay Jamiroquai?). But this kid has chops. "Too Many Questions" has a hard synth bassline that rolls under elegant strings, while "21st Century Life" is nothing-less than 21st Century soul: traditional R&B shot through the prism of Justice-esque dance beats.