When you're blessed with one of the most astonishing voices out, you're faced with some choices. You can take the easy route and make basic pop (or whatever genre you prefer there), or you can make the most brilliantly artistic music you can. Gallant has opted for the latter, and we couldn't be more glad. With his EP, Zebra, Gallant gave the world a nice taste of his vocal ability, but it wasn't until his breakthrough single, "Weight In Gold", that we knew he had the potential to be one of the best. Now, after two more outstanding singles in "Skipping Stones" and "Bourbon", an endorsement from Elton John, and a duet with Seal, it's time for the 24-year-old vocalist to secure his spot as a modern great. From start to finish, Ology, his debut album we're highlighting here, is flawless. There isn't a weak song in the batch, and some of the new tracks we've had in rotation frequently include disco-tinged "Episode", shimmering, pop-oriented "Counting", and the smooth and sensual "Miyazaki". Each display a softer, less explosive side of Gallant's sound, but you'll still hear plenty of his spontaneous, bursting style in tracks like "Talking to Myself" and "Bone + Tissue" as well. Gallant might not be a household name just yet, but we hope (and think) Ology will propel him to the high status which he so deserves. You can stream the entire album on NPR First Listen, but make sure to grab a copy of it for yourself when it's officially released April 6 (you can pre-order on iTunes now). It's stated often, but this surely is one of the best projects the year will have.
Gallant