Parson James' "Sinner Like You" - Single Review

   Talk about making a strong first impression. Parson James, the young 21-year-old artist who recently signed a deal with RCA Records, makes his official debut with the soulful, religious-themed "Sinner Like You", which immediately strikes a chord for its honesty, powerhouse vocal performance as convincing as Sam Smith's 2012 debut and confessional-like lyrical content.

   "Sinner Like You" is a compelling, personal behind-the-scene peek into the artist's life. As an out artist, James worries about the fact that some aspects of his lifestyle are considered a "sin" in the eyes of others. The artist wastes no time at hitting listeners hard with his emotional and powerful songwriting, the reason why the track holds such instantly gratifying impact.

   Leaving nothing to interpretation or the imagination, James questions some of his action on the song's opening verse. "Mama, I sinned again, I went to bed with another man, no the town won't understand, are you still gonna hold my hand?," he sings. The artist's willingness to share his story allows the song to resonate with many as they get to know James on an entirely different level. It gives his words more depth and meaning.

   Paired with an insanely catchy, rock-tinged beat, "Sinner Like You" demands to be played across the radio airwaves. Similar in sound and structure to "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele and the recent "Fire Under My Feet" by Leona Lewis, the track does a swell job at building momentum until the epic chorus comes through. The chorus is in fact a shining moment for the song and James, as it will definitely put him on the map in the coming months.

   With candid songwriting, mind-blowing vocals and attention grabbing production, the new "Sinner Like You" is the type of the song that deserves to get noticed and turns artists into overnight sensations. People will be quick to compare the track to "Stay With Me", in terms of power and shear brilliance, and will definitely cause music lovers to take notice. Emotionally-charged performances have never been this good.