Last Night in the Bittersweet - Paolo Nutini | Album Review

Words by Megan Duong

The 2022 release from acclaimed singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini titled Last Night in the Bittersweet kicks off with the electrified Aftermath that layers the melodic guitar riffs with spoken word poetry that sets the tone for the next hour and twelve minutes. If you’ve seen him perform on stage or on your television screens, it’s a joy and you can see the passion in his voice when he plays for the masses. 

Over the course of the sixteen track album Nutini takes us on a journey of nostalgia and joy at every step of the way as evidenced by the incredible Radio that transports us back to the days of old when radio stations. It makes me think of the late 90’s when I would wait by my boom box to hear my favorite song. This feeling could be translated into the feelings of wanting to get to a familiar place within a modern world. He makes that emotion all his own as he’s not afraid to shed his soul for the moment. 

Songs like Stranded Words sounds like something out of the highlands as the battered hero (or heroine) stands atop a hill and sings of their honesty and admission for companionship. And that sometimes it’s hard to ask for forgiveness and help when you’re always fighting battles alone or just trying to hold onto that leader mentality. The synthesized drums are a nice touch to what is a hauntingly beautiful song. 

This entire album is just so good and one that deserves a no skip label. It’s the kind of music you can listen to at the end of a hard day or just when you need some solace and grace when times are just too much to handle. Or when words are hard to vocalize — it’s just a good album to put on with a nice drink and let your thoughts drift away into the background.

My absolute favorites are Shine a Light, Children of the Stars, Lose It, Acid Eyes and Through the Echoes mainly for the impeccable way that Nutini marries the guitars, harmonies and the synthetic elements to create something so beautiful yet delicate. The cherry on top is the way his vocals just makes me believe in every word and thank him for speaking the words that I can not and have trouble fully expressing with my whole heart. I suppose that’s the beauty in songwriting, just letting the words flow through you and pray it touches the hearts of those who take a deep dive into the end results. 

We are not worthy of Paolo Nutini and his genius mind and all of the accolades holds true. This man makes the world a better place to be in with his music. Now excuse me while I go dig out my acoustic guitar and attempt remember the chords to a song my 16 year-old self had learned ages ago.