Michael Penn

Flourishes and details seemingly from the pen of Paul McCartney adorn Michael Penn's fifth studio album. It's evident that filling out these touches of genius takes hard work: songs rarely flow freely, and Penn even borrows rhymes from his one big hit, 1989's "No Myth." But even McCartney finds it hard to write like McCartney these days, and Penn's aiming admirably high.

Aimee Mann's husband (and Sean's older brother) returns with an appealing song cycle set
in 1947. Penn has a gift for morose love lyrics and crisp arrangements; the best songs here
suggest an alternate universe where Bob Dylan and George Harrison agreed to collaborate
full-time.