Move By Yourself
Former pro surfer Donavon Frankenreiter rides a new wave on his sophomore effort. A change in labels from mentor Jack Johnson's Brushfire to Lost Highway finds the bearded, long-haired, doe-eyed singer/songwriter channeling his innerTalking Book-era Steve Wonder on this occasionally funky and consistently engaging keyboard-dominated album. His dreamy, near-falsetto voice floats through these soulful slices of pop perfection. The low-boil funk and nonchalant vocals sometimes recall Curtis Mayfield or Boz Scaggs in their casual, yet distinctive approach. An offhand natural warmth oozes from this recording that finds the singer and his band tapping an earthy groove. Nothing seems rushed or forced, as the musicians lock into the sunshiny, blue-eyed, melodic R&B vibe. A few more upbeat cuts like the irresistible title track and the riff-driven "That's Too Bad" might have added more supple firepower, but even the ballads connect with a rootsy low-key charm. Frankenreiter hasn't entirely forsaken his tropical beach-boy charm, as shown by the closing "Beautiful Day," butMove by Yourselfis a refreshing twist that proves the artist is far more than a surf bum who picked up music to occupy his downtime on a rainy day.--Hal Horowitz