Into the Blue Again

Into the Blue Again
Label: Sub Pop
Length: LP
Rated: NONE
Media: CD
Format: Album
WorkNameSort: Into the Blue Again
Aside from some guests, the duties on the largely compelling Into the Blue Again are shouldered by James LaValle, the man behind the Album Leaf pen name since 1999. Into the Blue Again, with its orchestral arrangements and jittery beat programming, has little room for its few uninteresting vocal tracks. ‘Always for Youâ?� is one such cut that might land LaValle back on Fox’s The O.C., where his previous work has seen some shine. With frail, high school’yearbook lyrics, ‘Alwaysâ?� seems clumsily crafted for a (regrettably irresistible) teen soap, and doesn’t evoke the rich experiences that the autumnal, cinematic ‘Wishful Thinkingâ?� does. The latter’s delicate layers of strings and bells land it in the fine company of tranquil opener ‘The Light,â?� two numbers that would surely tank on The O.C. Such baroque textures would play out better on the tragedy-ridden Party of Five. Now that was a show.

This article appears in Sep 13-19, 2006.