Jonny Kaplan & the Lazy Stars, Sparkle And Shine

Jonny Kaplan & the Lazy Stars

Sparkle And Shine

Reviewed by: Stephen Krock

Behind the fantastic band name and stellar album title, there lies a raucous, but sweet and earnest slice of Americana in Jonny Kaplan & the Lazy Stars’ Sparkle And Shine.

The album charges out the gate with the title track, a joyous country rock jam that begs to be echoed by a bar full of drunkenly happy music fans. “Annalee Meets the Scorpion” and “Helena’s Afraid” are two classic Southern storytelling ditties that are just as rambunctious. A surprising, but welcome, touch of tenderness comes with “When You’re Down” and “The Child Is Gone.” And that is about what you can expect from the rest of the tracks here. Up the hill, down the hill, in much the same fashion. Kaplan’s soulful voice ties it all together nicely, but once you get past the two or three standouts in the beginning, it kind of flatlines. What is especially nice about Kaplan’s voice, however, is that it isn’t overly gruff and gravelly. Or twangy. There’s a youthful, somewhat dorky, exuberance in him that is so excellent to listen to, despite any of the instrumentals surrounding him.

Sparkle And Shine may not shine, but it certainly does sparkle. And there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

Rating: Listenable