Pass It Around

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On Donavon Frankenreiter's third album, the former surfer and FOJ (friend of Jack, as in Jack Johnson) delivers another solid serving of laid-back sandy singer/songwriter soul. This time out there is less energy and funk than on 2006's Move by Yourself, and also fewer memorable songs. It feels like a bit of a backslide from that album's ambition and drive, but still results in a perfectly fine record. Frankenreiter hasn't gone back to the barely ambulatory pace of his debut; there is a lot of mellow bounce and semi-funky soul to be found, especially on "Hit the Ground Running" and "Sing a Song." And there are plenty of sweet melodies ("Mansions on the Sand"), heartfelt performances ("Come with Me"), and tunes that sound like '70s radio hits (the melancholy "Someone's Something") filling up the album, too. If things sound a bit slicker and less personal, it could be down to the fact that Frankenreiter took on co-writers for most of the tracks on the album. That's not to say that he's working with Max Martin in search of a huge hit; there's just a more professional feel and less of a "dude and his friends hanging out on the beach" kind of vibe here. The sound of the record doesn't help matters on that front much, either, as the arrangements are smooth and sophisticated as opposed to the stripped-down sound of the debut or the inventive arrangements and fresh approach on Move by Yourself. Part of Frankenreiter's charm on the first album was his innocence, while on the follow-up it was his innocent ambition. Here it feels like he's comfortably sliding into the role of the professional journeyman who cranks out albums because it's his gig. That's kind of sad on one level, but on another it's not so bad because the product is good. Pass It Around may mark the end of Frankenreiter the artist, but it may also just be a stop for breath. Either way, it's an album that fans of laid-back, peaceful and easy singers will like. Not love but like, and that's OK.