On his second full-length album, L.A.-based singer-songwriter AM lands squarely in the same indie-pop sweet spot occupied by the likes of the Shins, Nada Surf, and the Fruit Bats. Drawing favorable comparisons to the sunny A.M. radio pop of the ’70s (his effortless tenor splits the difference between Kenny Loggins and James Taylor), what distinguishes AM from many of his contemporaries in a densely-populated patch of pop real estate is the skill he shows for incorporating some unexpected musical influences into otherwise conventional pop songs throughout Future Sons & Daughters. AM’s love of world music rhythm structures is incorporated organically into the arrangements of standout cuts like “It’s Been So Long,” which slinks along on a terrific conga percussion line, and the Tropicalia-infused “Darker Days.” There’s a genuine soulfulness to opener “A Complete Unknown” and “When the Dust Settles,” which drinks deeply from the well of vintage Southern soul. If none of the songs are particularly innovative, AM has come up with a record that’s never less than charming, with his superior songcraft sure to play well to the Starbucks and NPR crowd.
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