DARYL HALL

When Daryl Hall tackles a solo project, it’s always interesting to hear how far he’ll stray from the sounds that made him and partner John Oates staples of pop radio. Hall’s fifth solo disc hews pretty closely to those styles. With production help from Greg Bieck (Jennifer Lopez, Destiny’s Child) and guitarist Paul Pesco, Laughing is an update, not a departure, despite the loping Americana beat of the opening title tune. Hall follows that up with the ’80s throwback “Talking to You (Is Like Talking to Myself),” whose driving drum program and chorus-laden guitars hark back to his MTV days. But Hall reminds us that soul music is his meat and potatoes, especially in the Stax/Volt flavor romp “Message to Ya” and the smooth ballad “Crash and Burn.” Sadly, Hall’s longtime bassist and musical director Tom “T-Bone” Wolk passed away early in this project, mere hours after contributing some gorgeously slinky guitar to “Problem With You (Bone’s Last Ride).” –BC