Ron Sexsmith

Where Time Being was a set of simply written, occasionally sentimental reflections on mortality, its follow-up frames Sexsmith in more elaborate orchestrations. He heaps on electric piano, shimmering finger-picking and soft soul horn lines that seem nabbed from Sammy Nestico. Sometimes, as on "Music to My Ears," the result achieves a lazy trip to Muscle Shoals, while "One Last Round" and "Brandy Alexander" (which he cowrote with Leslie Feist) sound more like Chicago B-sides. With all its hits and misses, Sexsmith's writing continues to outshine his methods.