Though the shades of Frank Sinatra and Peter Allen still combat for his soul, in his newly compact disk “Call Me Irresponsible” Michael Buble has ultimately found his own sound and personality. For those who doubt that his channeling Harry Connick Jr. channeling Frank Sinatra schtick is done, jump to his rendition of the Frank Sinatra signature song “That’s Life” and listen to his natural vocal amid the combination of both gospel chorus and big music band.

Looking to other sources of inspiration has led Buble to Billy Paul for “Me And Mrs. Jones” which is done in a more matter-of-fact style than the hand-wringing original; to Jack Jones for the title cut “Call Me Irresponsible” which is more laid back than the original despite the big band arrangement; to Eric Clapton whose “Wonderful Tonight” becomes a lovable Latin love-song with assistance from the great Ivan Lins; and to Willie Nelson whose “Always On My Mind” is a lovely song which gets the well-favored voice it deserves. A wide variety of sources and styles that Michael masters and makes his own.

Two polished adamants that cementum the new identity are “Everything” in which all previous acts upon are absent and it is Michael Buble emerging as his own man and the tender and laid back “I’m Your Man.”

Extra mention must attend the arrangements which swing when they need to and modulate for the tender moments such as “Lost.” The upbeat arrangements of “It Had Better Be Tonight” (which can only be identified as big band Italian salsa) and “Comin’ Home Baby” (with it’s backing vocals from Boyz II Men) are just magnificent.

A must for fans and a step towards world dominance by this Canadian superhero, this is a wonderful leap forward for an creative person who in the past has been weighed down by his influences. But as he warns us all with the compact disk opener, “The Best Is Yet To Come.”