Officially his tenth studio album counting releases as
Sonny & the Sunsets,
Rod for Your Love comes advertised as a back-to-basics sort of album for
Sonny Smith. That rings especially true considering that his two prior LPs were an original monologue set to music (2016's Sees All Knows All) and a vibrant
Sonny & the Sunsets record that explored '80s new wave with producer Merrill Garbus of
tUnE-yArDs (2016's
Moods Baby Moods). Still, he doesn't revisit his earliest folk proclivities here; rather,
Rod for Your Love re-embraces '60s-inspired guitar pop, both in terms of structure and, to a large degree, arrangements. Describing the approach as "meat and potatoes,"
Smith recorded it with
Dan Auerbach of
the Black Keys at
Auerbach's studio in Nashville, along with his own touring band as they wrapped up a tour. (
Smith has explained that he chose to release it as a solo album because he was writing about himself.) While it is a rock-combo album at heart, there are plenty of extra touches, like ornamental keyboards and percussion, including a title track replete with pitched drums, tambourine, and flute voice. That said, guitars preside over a track list flush with hummable melodies and a sweetened urgency that may recall names like
Matthew Sweet,
Marshall Crenshaw, or
Tommy James & the Shondells. The jaunty "Lost" adds some organ but is memorable for its '50s-flavored guitar rhythms and clean tones. They top off the janglier "Adventures" with glockenspiel and "doo-wah" backing vocals. In the meantime, lyrics dwell on romantic affection and the daily struggle of an underdog just trying to get by ("I'm just trying to feel alive somehow/And sing my shooby-doo..."). Relatable and often endearing,
Rod for Your Love comforts like a favorite pair of jeans, and for a guy who knows his way around a quirky earworm, it's in contention for his strongest set of songs to date. ~ Marcy Donelson