Ambition

The tellingly titled Ambition is the second album by Cork-based singer/songwriter Stephen O’Brien. It’s a record that’s been bubbling away for the last two years in the tunesmith’s metaphorical musical kitchen. Full of outsider anthems and skewed lyrics of anger and alienation (‘Sellotaped To The Moon,’ ‘Hollywood Itch’) the opus is a delightfully deranged effort that offers a welcome alternative to the predictability of the glut of solo Irish troubadours out there right now. Featuring subtle production values, the record flits between garage rock, folk and alternative over the course of 12 tracks, and the likes of ‘Karaoke Chicks’ and ‘Tonight, Inside’ really come alive thanks to O’Brien’s ragged voice. Fans of Dan Sartain and The Wedding Present in particular should make sure to check this out.