The solo debut from the moonshine-voiced frontman, sees holding true to his Jersey punk roots, while establishing himself as a top-tier songwriter in the increasingly crowded pantheon of indie-Americana scenemakers. Always a deft lyricist, with , has proved that he can hold his own with open-road, roots rock bards like ( ), , and . Spirited, glockenspiel-hammered opener "A Wonderful Life" does little to dispel the oft-cited comparisons that have both dogged and helped throughout the years, but the contemplative title track that follows introduces a more nuanced take on blue collar heartache that, for the most part, extends through to the remaining 11 tracks. Standouts like the lush "Among Other Foolish Things," the fist-pumping "Rosemary," the bonfire stomper "Smoke," and the easy, country-folk closer "Open All Night," deftly balance artistry and last-call desperation. These are lent some real pop gravitas by the clean, but not too pristine production of , who peppers with pedal steel guitars and sweet, but not too saccharine harmonies. Elsewhere, 's other muse, , shines through on the plaintive "Long Drives," and "Downtown Train"-era is evoked on the sleepy "Honey Magnolia," but , despite its measured pace, never loses steam. Much like his English counterpart , who fronted the post-hardcore outfit before going solo, has found a way to distill his band's fiery nostalgia into something a little more refined, but no less affecting. ~ James Christopher Monger