CHRIS STAMEY

Lovesick Blues

[Yep Roc]

Having spent much of his career in the producer’s chair, Chris Stamey fittingly applies lessons learned behind the scenes to this, his first solo album in seven years. Following a recent reunion with his seminal power-pop band the dB’s, Stamey ups the musical ante on Lovesick Blues. The album is lushly arranged and brimming with emotion, and Stamey adds a personal perspective to the radiant pop approach that’s long been his signature. The most striking difference this time around is the emphasis on slower, more pervasive melodies. The stately reverence of “Wintertime” recalls Simon and Garfunkel’s folk finesse, while “The Room Above the Bookstore” provides a narrative that’s intimate yet ornate. The gentle repose of “Astronomy,” “London” and the bittersweet title track, meanwhile, convey an air of quiet contemplation, making these Lovesick Blues all the more affecting. –Lee Zimmerman