I wasn’t sure what to expect from Radiohead drummer Phil Selway’s debut solo album, Familial out on August 31st, but I just listened to four tracks from the album and I think they are really nice. It has a very quiet contemplative singer-songwriter type vibe to it but with some hints of Radiohead in the sound too.

He’s got a good voice for this kind of Nick Drake style stuff. His voice reminds me of a cross between Mark Linkous, who committed suicide earlier this year, and Thom Yorke. The songs I’ve heard actually remind me of a more straight forward acoustic guitar based version of the songs on Yorke’s own debut solo album, 2006′s The Eraser.

I’m not sure I love this stuff yet but I am much more impressed than I expected to be on my initial listen. I plan on checking out the full album when it comes out next week.