While he has remained a popular touring act, catering to a hardcore fan base with hundreds of American and European solo dates, rock singer/songwriter
Jeffrey Gaines hasn't released a studio album since 2003's
Mitchell Froom-produced
Toward the Sun. A pair of live albums in 2004 and 2014 documented the soulful immediacy of his solo acoustic tours, and with 2017's
Alright, he returns to the studio after a 15-year gap with a set of appropriately well-honed tunes. Since debuting in 1992,
Gaines' bailiwick has always been in the somewhat mainstream folk-rock overlap of gritty
Springsteen-style Americana and punchy
Costello-esque smart pop, and he again melds the two here to great effect. A star-studded studio band of drummer
Pete Thomas (
Elvis Costello,
Squeeze), bassist
Davey Faragher (
Cracker,
Elvis Costello), and guitarist
Val McCallum (
Jackson Browne,
Sheryl Crow), who also perform collectively as
Jackshit, lend plenty of spirit and muscle to the proceedings, as does producer
Chris Price (
Emitt Rhodes,
Linda Perhacs). It's a well-suited and nimble crew of veterans, but at its core, a record is only as good as its songwriting, and fortunately,
Gaines offers plenty to like on this crafty ten-song set. Starting amiably enough with a trio of nicely built roots rockers,
Alright hits its stride midway through with "Seems to Me" and "Frowned Upon," two undeniably hooky pop/rock gems that feel like the perfect showcase for the best of what all parties involved (
Gaines,
Price, and the band) have to offer. Similarly, "Promise of Passion" is an infectious power pop standout whose distinctly
Attractions-like arrangement ought to be forgiven given the musicians involved. Sure, he's playing to some of his major influences, but for the most part
Gaines' rock-solid songcraft holds its own on this very nice comeback record. ~ Timothy Monger