On his 2017 album
Across the Multiverse
, singer/songwriter
Dent May
stitched together all the influences and sounds that ran through his previous works to come up with something magical. Glittering disco, soft-as-a-moustache soft rock, thoughtful piano balladry, and cheerful indie pop all came together in shiny nuggets of melody, with
May
's tender vocals and idiosyncratic lyrics adding an extra layer of sweetness. 2020's
Late Checkout
wisely follows the same basic template, only more confidently this time. Vocally,
has grown into a compelling presence with whimsical charm to spare, and as a producer and arranger, he's progressed even further. The album has a peaceful warmth that flows from the speakers like champagne from a bottle as the ballads gently sway, the pop songs rollick joyfully, and the disco grooves float on air as if suspended by helium. Even more than on
Multiverse
,
sounds plugged into the moment in the '70s where artists like
Andrew Gold
or
Paul Davis
carved out a spot in the Venn diagram where
Beatle
-snappy tunes met smooth soft rock vibes and funky disco. A great many of
's contemporaries join him in a quest to turn back the clock to that wood-paneled era, but he has none of the lo-fi weirdness or ironic silliness that most of them bring to the party. His sincerity is contagious, and it makes the record easy to embrace. So do the songs, which are all high-quality gems, whether they are earnest ballads like "Full Speed Ahead" that sound ripped from the
Neil Sedaka
songbook; peppy numbers that are given a boost by harmony guitar leads ("I Could Use a Miracle") or
's soaring falsetto ("Sea Salt & Caramel"); or, as on "Easier Said Than Done," tunes that feature laid-back grooves that sound just right for a bit of slow-motion boogying.
definitely leveled up on
, and
bops along in the same rarefied air as he keeps right on crafting happily nostalgic pop with just the right amount of sugar sprinkled on top. The record goes down like a pastel-hued drink served with a tiny umbrella, preferably sipped on a veranda as the summer shadows begin to lengthen and a cool breeze cuts the humidity. Not too many records capture that exact feeling, so when one does it as well as
does, it's cause to celebrate. ~ Tim Sendra