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New albums by Alfie Boe, Jack Savoretti and Joe Jackson reviewed

Daily Star's music guru checks out Alfie Boe's attempt at wholesome singer songwriter integrity, plus Jack Savoretti's ninth and Joe Jackson's witty comeback

[Alfie Boe]

Not just for Christmas, Alfie Boe finds fresh musical grit on his new album(Image: Getty Images for Capital Concert)

Cuddly Alfie Boe has been in more Christmas stockings than a tangerine, but he swerves the opera cheese in favour of Northern grit on new album Face Myself.

Inspired by a chat with The Who's Pete Townshend the famous tenor digs deeper to exercise his own songwriting muscles, resulting in semi- acoustic guitar tunes confronting inner conflict, neuroses and childhood nostalgia (Avignon).

He pays tribute to his Manchester heroes the late Stone Roses star Mani, in a stirring title track, and he even takes on Noel Gallagher (Trying To Find A World) but theres no escaping his classical roots, and that creates a jarring collision of styles, particularly the lack of vocal nuance.

It's like Mr Tumble having a go at a break up ballad but but he gets three stars for stepping out of his comfort zone...this is proper Boe.

What Jack Savorettis music has lacked in originality, hes more than made up for in precision over the years. He shakes things up for album nine, We Will Always Be in an attempt to get to the heart of his musicality, but the tools hes using are too blunt to pierce the skin.

The retro vibe is a throwback to an unflattering era when men resplendent in beige polo neck jumpers crooned lifelessly on stools. His opener, The Making Of You, refuses to let somebody break his heart as he warbles you can use me for parts, but youre ultimately left unconvinced.

KT Tunstall adds welcome rasp to the Joe Cocker-ish Tempting Fate, and Time Will Tell provides more edge via a wild guitar and Hammond intro, but too often Jack takes the easy-listening path.

Fans can never be certain which Joe Jackson will turn up come new album time, but hes nearly always witty.

Out now, Hope And Fury harks back to multiple eras - from New Wave to jazz, paying homage to his seaside roots on Welcome To Burning By The Sea where Jackson almost raps of council flats and Kens kebabs unearthing the superb chorus: We got fish & chips with an apostrophe.

By contrast, the chiming Fabulous People is a reminder of his more succinct 80s pop output, with full-throttle vocal passion. Since sharing time on both sides of the Atlantic (he calls himself 'Bi-coastal'), you can hear the conflict in Jacksons voice that switches from peak mockney (think early Bowie) to sweet Philadelphia soul.

Best of all is See You In September, a nonchalant reflection on ageing where Joe is just happy no-one "is bugging me for sleeping in the afternoon.

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