, the singer and songwriter behind , wasn't so sure how he felt about the big old world on 2020's , an expansive double album that examined various forms of personal and social malaise, wrapped up in arrangements that allowed his country influences to have their day. is still troubled with ennui but of a decidedly different and more manageable kind on 2023's , which in many ways is a left turn away from the previous LP's sound and spirit. While ran an epic 77 minutes, is significantly more compact, making its way through nine songs in 35 minutes. sounds in no way rushed; it holds on to the languid feel of 's best-known work, but it does so without dawdling, and while the occasional pedal steel guitar pops up here, these songs are dressed up in arrangements that recall several varieties of 1960s pop. revels in the sweet harmonies of "Is It Magic?," the very feel of "Living Inside" and "Use Your Love Right Now," the -influenced melody and faint harmony overdubs on "Let's Go Out on the Town," and the veneer of echoey atmosphere that permeates the album. is committed to its sadness, but it's a sweet, comforting kind of blues that's aware the rain will stop in time and the sun will come out again. While was set in a world where the future holds few prospects, is more concerned with affairs of the heart, and even when it isn't happy, it feels relatable, like a conversation with a friend about the less enjoyable stuff in their life. That doesn't make sound like much fun, which isn't quite the case. 's songs are founded in seductive pop melodies with a rootsy undertow, and he, his studio band, and his production team have crafted an album that comes from the heart and emotionally connects with rare skill, in both music and lyrics. Having a down day? may be just what you need. ~ Mark Deming