This Fall’s Folk-Pop Album

By now you’ve probably heard one of Vance Joy’s songs. His folk-pop single “Riptide” has blown up alternative radio stations across the country. You know the one, the song that has that weird line, “Closest thing to Michelle Pfieffer that you’ve ever seen.” No one knows exactly what it’s supposed to mean, but that hasn’t affected its popularity. It’s the fourth track of 13 on the Australian native’s debut studio album Dream Your Life Away.

And you’ve probably heard “Mess Is Mine,” another single about a special bond between significant others, despite their hectic, “messy” lives. It features the right amount of everything: light acoustic strumming, some clapping and a catchy hook with a drumming crescendo that erupts as Joy hits the high notes.

The soccer-player-turned-musician keeps it simple. Before this, his only release was a five-song EP. Most tracks feature just him and his guitar, but sometimes he busts out a ukulele, like on “Riptide” and more notably on “Who Am I.” His lyrics are clear and his guitar is crisp, which tends to be a perfect combination for females between the ages of 12 and 55.

Vance Joy’s musical future is uncertain, but he did sign a deal with Atlantic Records for five years, so be prepared for at least one more radio hit. Dream Your Life Away doesn’t bring anything to the table that isn’t already there, except perhaps the unique sound of Joy’s voice, but it contains all the right elements to please the ears of people who can afford concert tickets at big venues. Joy has been known to say he’d like to experiment with different sounds in the future. Let’s hope he does, because clapping, finger-snapping and whistling have been heard a time or two thousand already.