Singer/songwriter
Jesse Harris
has carved out his own introspective niche in the modern music scene, nestling in between the languid, rootsy jazz of original cohort
Norah Jones
and the avant-garde guitar noodlings of occasional colleague
Marc Ribot
. While he's earned his place as a solo performer, he's arguably best when he collaborates with like-minded artists, as on his previous album, 2016's
Seemed Like a Good Idea
. An inspired duo recording with singer/violinist
Petra Haden
, it found him sweetening up his often flat, understated tendencies with
Haden
's bright vocal presence. Conversely, on 2017's
Music for Chameleons
,
Harris
returns to the low-key vibe with an album of jazz-inflected, coffeehouse-friendly folk. Joining
this time are members of
Star Rover
(who appeared on 2015's
No Wrong No Right
), as well as bassist
Jason Lader
and
Maroon 5
keyboardist/guitarist
Jesse Carmichael
. Needless to say, he put together a superb backing ensemble, and for longtime
fans there is plenty to enjoy here. Cuts like the loungey "On My Way Back," the twangy "A Matter of Time," and the organ-steeped, reggae-ish "You Don't Have to Be Alone" showcase
' knack for woody, organic sounds and enveloping melodies. Nonetheless, with his hushed vocal delivery and penchant for song structures that rely heavily on pleasantly strummed or arpeggiated guitar intros, many of the songs on
have a samey quality. There are several high points, including his hypnotically buoyant, orchestral-tinged instrumental "Everybody Thinks You're a Movie Star," which coincidentally features wordless vocals from
. Similarly,
reveals his talent for writing poignant, inner-directed anthems like "Neither Old Nor Young" and the yearning, nervy "I Always Thought the World Would Catch Your Fall." However, on
more often lives up to his album's title and blends all too well into the tastefully arranged background. ~ Matt Collar