This album was bought for me as a birthday present, and I really like it. There's a feel-good mood throughout and you can't help be buoyed by Newton's exuberance and obvious pleasure in performing.
He's a fantastic guitarist, using a popping and slapping technique similar to Eric Roche (who was a big influence on him) or Michael Hedges, and it's refreshing to hear someone with genuine talent. He's not a bad vocalist either, though on occasions the songs sound a little like Snow Patrol. It's not ground-breaking, but it is something different to the stream of indie bands that are around at the moment, with Newton turning to a more experimental pop sound, driven by an acoustic guitar.
The quality isn't totally consistant, as a few of the tracks towards the end drop off, but the singles are likely to get stuck in your head for days, and it's hard not to be impressed by the maturity of the song-writing for the most part. Newton Faulkner will be one to watch for the future, and this is a strong debut which is definitely worth owning. I've not moved it from my stereo for days now.