CITIZEN COPE

It’s difficult to get used to a carefree Citizen Cope. That’s not to say he’s moved away from his acoustic-based, R&B-jazz-reggae-rock sound. His voice still has the kinds of subtle yet intriguing inflections one might hear in a passionate conversation, but listening to songs like “Something to Believe In,” with its upbeat tempo and cheery lyrics, is disorienting at first. It’s much peppier than we’ve come to expect—possibly because its follows the jaunty, island-flavored title track. “Dancer From Brazil,” “Summertime” and “Back Then”—which features a nifty xylophone opening—offer more of the cool, urban-dude groove Cope is known for, and he presents them elegantly with just enough sass. Listening to this album is like seeing a friend’s child after many years and being taken aback by how much they’ve matured. –Nancy Dunham