Even Rupert Murdoch can't contain good music!

"Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran McFeely channels John Lennon and glam-era Brit pop and mixes it with a dash of Beck on his second album. Whereas Lennon's and Beck's recordings were meticulously presented, Simple Kid's 2 works hard to appear as lo-fi as can be - the sound is muddy and cluttered. Yet the inventiveness shines: he writes memorable melodies that call to mind Ray Davies' jaunty song-stories sung over a blend of banjo, slide guitar and percussion that's by turns rocky and mellow. Masked by his ironic delivery, which might suggest that life is a series of dull surprises, his lyrics reveal Mr. McFeely's determination to find his own way. What emerges is a charming, off-kilter worldwiew on a disc that comes over like a private missive to a far-off friend."

-- Wall Street Journal