Max Eider - Disaffection (2010)

Never underestimate the power of good ol’ guitar pop. Right from his early days with UK indie-pub rockers the Jazz Butcher, Max Eider established himself as a master of clean, hollow-body, jazz-influenced guitar lines. On his fourth solo album, he’s hardly changed his style a bit, and that’s a pleasure.

Disaffection, apparently borne of Eider’s struggles with depression, is understandably mellow. Only the opener “Nice Guy” kicks up much dust, but that’s fine. With his smart, sometimes biting lyrics and agreeable voice, Eider can wallow in his middle age. At its best, as on the thoughtful “The Black Dog” and organ-padded “Dancing With Andromeda”, Disaffection is downright sublime. Score one for the old school.~By John Bergstrom