Hearts and Arrows [180 Gram Vinyl]

Bored of the bearded nu-folk scene and the trendiness that surrounds it, Australian-born singer/songwriter Danny Wilson's third album under the guise of Danny & the Champions of the World, Hearts & Arrows, travels about half a decade ahead of their early-'70s-inspired previous output to the heartland rock of Bruce Springsteen's breakthrough era. Having recently recorded the Boss' "Tougher Than the Rest" on a covers EP for Record Store Day, the transition from wistful folk troubadours to full-on checked-shirt rockers might not be as out of the blue as you think, but it's still surprising to see just how much the disc's 11 tracks owe to the blue-collar idol, whether it's the E Street-esque saxophone solo on "Brothers in the Night," the "Nebraska" pastiche of "Walk with Me," or the rousing Americana of "You Don't Know (My Heart Is in the Right Place)." Occasionally, Wilson and his five-piece backing band, an entirely new lineup from that which recorded 2008's The Streets of Our Time, manage to steer themselves away from the tribute act territory long enough to carve out their own identity. "Colonel and the King" combines a gorgeous jangly country guitar riff with a yearning melody perfectly suited to its reflection on the relationship between Elvis and his manager, while "Too Tough to Cry," a breakup letter to his former outfit Grand Drive, is a beautifully world-weary ballad which showcases Wilson's authentic rootsy vocals at their most heart-achingly raw. But with Tony Poole (formerly of '70s band Starry Eyed & Laughing) and Ted Hutt (from fellow Springsteen aficionados the Gaslight Anthem) at the helm, the album is never more than five minutes away from another Born to Run homage. The unashamedly retro six-piece may be based in London, but Hearts & Arrows' authentic, vintage New Jersey rock sound ensures that it neatly fills that gap until its obvious influence's next record. But they'll have to give the Springsteen lovefest a rest if they are to make any kind of impression of their own next time round. ~ Jon O'Brien