The Freewheeling Brett Dennen

A voice like Brett Dennen’s is an acquired taste. A bit of a nasally whine, sometimes times shrill, it is certainly distinct. You know him when you hear him. His sixth studio album Por Favor takes his usual sound and puts it in a tropical locale, with hints of reggae and a beachy aesthetic.  A freewheeling, easygoing vibe abounds on Por Favor, giving the songs an acoustic, seaside coffee shop feel. The album is like listening to Dennen on vacation, somewhere warm, with endless chill and plenty of rum.

Produced by Dave Cobb, Dennen’s arrangements on Por Favor are simple and sunny, light and gauzy, and the similarity between them brings an easy fluidity. The songs flow into each other in a breezy, cool way that’ll have you smelling a whiff of SPF in the air. “Cassidy/With the ocean in your hair,” he sings on “Cassidy”, a salt-n-sun love song that never delves too deep. “Stand Up for It” plays out like a protest-lite track, preaching sugary, “sha-la-la “peace. “Bonfire” is a sand dwelling, mid tempo tune about returning to a simpler love, with “sunburned kisses” in a panoramic setting. And “What’s the Secret” is a hunky-dory sounding confrontation with inner demons. “What’s the secret,” he sings. “I don’t know I’m wasted.” For those looking for some fun, these songs will hit the spot.

But for those looking for something with a bit more depth, Dennen at his sparsest will resonate. “Where We Left Off” and “Strawberry Road” are barely there heartbreakers that showcase softer, pulled back vocals from him. He scratches and creaks in all the right places, in these more natural and honest performances, staring in the face of loneliness and insecurity. These emotional moments are what you’ll remember from Por Favor once the daiquiri buzz wears off and the sun goes down behind the clouds.