A sense of joy and gratitude resonates through The Quiet Life. The album’s billowing melodies and bright, fine-tooled arrangements reflect a British pop influence, with echoes of everyone from The Beatles to Simply Red and Orange Juice. Stephen Christian (best known as lead singer of the faith-based rock combo Amberlin) shows off his high tenor vocals throughout the tracks, effortlessly soaring to falsetto heights at peak emotional moments. Producers Kevin Dailey and Micah Tawlks combine art-rock elegance with solid rhythmic punch, bound by wraparound curtains of background vocals. The opening track, “Goes Without Saying,” rides a sparkling piano line that takes Christian into blue-eyed soul territory, setting the listener up for the polished electronica of “Knew Then Know Now” and the propulsive power pop of “Find Me.” “Hymn for Her” and “Before I Start Dreaming” are heartfelt and delicate, contrasting with the abrasive edge introduced in “Kodachrome” and “In with the New.” Lyrically, Christian projects a life-affirming outlook, letting the sweet longing of his music fill the spaces between his words.