Ward White borrows from some of the grandest rock and roll traditions, and he filters those through his strong--but somewhat incongruous--tenor vocals. And so we get anthems that float rather than soar. Which is altogether more arresting.

Ward White The Tender Age (self-released)

White tends to shift gears between albums, and it's always hard to pin down his current influences. The heavy emphasis on piano and keyboards does lend a certain Joe Jackson feel--but a Joe Jackson with the sharp edges on the upper side of the vocal range.

While these songs are (as always) immaculately crafted, the ear is constantly drawn to White's vocals. At times it sounds like he's not going to make it through the song. And then, by the end of a piece with almost incomprehensibly long phrases, it becomes apparent that he's just playing with the listener.

In a kind way, of course. White is just subverting tropes, often by juxtaposing two different ones against each other. These songs tend to evolve in expected ways once the listener understands White's methods. I've been listening for a couple albums, and I'm not sure I totally understand. But I recognize wonderment when I hear it. White delivers the goods once again.

Jon Worley