6/10

Ever since his breakthrough single 'Let Her Go' topped the charts in countries all across the world, singer and songwriter Mike Rosenberg aka Passenger has spent the subsequent years chasing the acclaim he received for that enigmatic effort. While the track dominated 2012 with its rich and dynamic direction, it has been the base for all of his output since, and resulted in creating one of the most prolific artists working today. So after just a six-month gap between his previous full-length 'Patchwork' and now, he returns with 'Songs For The Drunk And Broken-Hearted', a concept record of sorts.

While usually a name who likes to project his songwriting through the guise of fictional and adventurous characters, 'Songs For The Drunk And Broken-Hearted' is a rare gem in his catalogue that takes this idea as far as it'll go, delivering an anthology of short stories all set around the ideas of being intoxicated and lovelorn. Written during a period of his life when he was experiencing these two feelings first hand, this new album looks to take his bold and soaring aesthetic and channel it through a truly heartfelt emotion, adding a little more spice to his usual avenue and conjuring a world that many of us can relate to in some shape or form.

It may not be jam-packed with the anthems and euphoric sensibilities that we know him for, but 'Songs For The Drunk And Broken-Hearted' does make for an engaging and wistful offering. His warm and lilting voice remains the heart of this new LP, but just doesn't create the glittering fanfare we were hoping for.