ALBUM REVIEW: Andy Warhol's Dream, Trevor Sensor

Trevor Sensor's career started when Killers' guitarist Dave Keuning caught him onstage in a dive bar on the outskirts of nowhere. Who would have thought that nearly a year later, Sensor - with his not so cover boy look and difficult voice - could release two EPs and sign with the same label as Ladyhawk and Black Mountain? As his debut album, Andy Warhol’s Dream makes clear, he's also very young.

Trevor Sensor does not, of course, sound young. It’s hard to imagine the 23 year old ever did. His parents have gifted him with a remarkably distressed voicebox; a glossy sounding rasp that is so oxymoronic, it's like lacquered driftwood or ripped denim couture. Sensor artfully manipulates his melodies to make sure his vocals can be heard from the best vantage point.

Co-produced by members of Imagine Dragons and The Shins, with backing harmonies from in-house Whitney band singers, the album is packed with indie royalty. And Sensor takes advantage of the bigger sound. 'High Beams' pushes the recliner seat back for a 70s groove, and there's bluesy hues to 'In Hollywood, Everyone is Plastic'.

An ear catching track - above syrupy backing vocals and psych-mellotron - is the country rock anthem 'The Money Gets Bigger'. Meanwhile, 'Andy Warhol's Dream', from the album's namesake - is Boomtown Rats meets Fairytale of New York.

All things considered, Andy Warhol’s Dream is a promising first LP effort for an aggressively intelligent virtuoso climbing the shoulders of giants.

7/10.