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May 17, 2016 Mutual Benefit By Ryan E.C. Hamm

Comforting singer/songwriter music gets a bad rap among many “indie music” fans. To be sure, it’s earned that reputation—for every Seven Swans, too many other artists veer straight into James Taylor territory. But it’s still an oddity to see nakedly hopeful emotion emerge behind musicianship that’s simply beautiful, without the music being either saccharine or just plain boring.

Jordan Lee, with his project Mutual Benefit, showed it was possible to be optimistic without making terrible music on his breakthrough Love’s Crushing Diamond, which was both beautiful and simple. Lee is back with his second LP, Skip a Sinking Stone, and while not quite able to scale the same heights of Love, he nonetheless mostly succeeds in reminding listeners that pretty music doesn’t have to be cloying.

Opening overture “Madrugada” sets the tone—lush strings are placed over quiet vocals and tinkling bells that could be wind chimes, with peaceful percussion bubbling behind the whole thing. “Closer, Still” and “Lost Dreamers,” the album’s best one-two punch, are achingly beautiful, with Lee singing “Let’s take the long way home” on “Dreamers” with the conviction of someone who’s just fallen in love.

The album gets a bit more produced as it proceeds, which is likely thanks to the second half being recorded in New York rather than spots during Mutual Benefit’s tour. The piano and strings on “Not For Nothing” wouldn’t feel out of place on a Harry Nilsson record, and it introduces the more soft-rock back half of the album. It’s certainly not bad (in fact, it’s quite good) but it makes for a somewhat disconnected listen. The album is being billed as two distinct halves, and that certainly is the case. The first part of Skip a Sinking Stone looms large over the whole album, setting a bar the rest of the album, lovely and hopeful as it is, can’t quite hit. (www.mutualbenefit.bandcamp.com)

Author rating: 7/10