Album: Mayer Hawthorne, Where Does This Door Go (Republic)

After his sensitive soul-boy debut and a major label follow-up that flirted with ELO-style cleverness, Michigan auteur Hawthorne has synthesised his influences into perfect power pop, with the help of producers including Pharrell Williams.

There's a nod to Steely Dan, Lewis Taylor and even The Beatles, while lyrically he morphs from nerd to jock, though not entirely convincingly. A bonus four-track CD is even better.