Kevin Johansen

That Kevin Johansen is possessed of a singularly resonant voice and an intriguing musical style is not in doubt. But the man has yet to produce a consistently great album. Perhaps it has something to do with his penchant for jokes. For every tribute to Brazil or worthy collaboration with Uruguayan murguistas La Falta, there's a song like "Susan Surrender," which sounds like Wean snuck into the studio. The jokes are smart, but it's hard not to feel that they keep us at arm's length. We hate to say it, but you can't fall fully in love with the class clown until he stops clowning.