CD Review

Certain records should come with instructions. In the case of Donavon Frankenreiter’s self-titled new album, it is borderline compulsory for the listener to be out under a warm sun with an iced cocktail and a cool ocean breeze. Rarely does a disc lend itself to lazy lounging more than this one.

The album is out on Brushfire Records, notable as the signature label of fellow surfer-cum-crooner Jack Johnson. Frankenreiter, in his solo debut, has certainly not allowed himself much latitude to drift from the label’s sound. His music is inextricably linked to that of Johnson: cool, calm acoustic melodies as predictable as the tides. Frankenreiter, much like Johnson, is a surfer at the core. Sponsored on the waves since he was 13, Donavon just recently found fame as a solo act in the musical ranks.

Many of the songs on this debut sound similar, and all are unapologetically acoustic. Their strength lies in their catchiness—you often find yourself either tapping your feet or bobbing your head to their simple amicability. Frankenreiter’s voice has a gravelly smoothness to it that can draw in your ear, and you can sense an easy-going sensibility in the music and lyrics. But an aftertaste soon develops after a sweet start, and you realize that not only do the songs sound very similar to each other, but that they sound frighteningly akin to Johnson’s.

I liked this CD for what it offers—a fun and soothing recess from the more emotionally charged of the singer-songwriter genre. Those that are intrigued by his sound, though, should know that they won’t be getting anything very new, different or all that compelling with this disc.