LUKE BRINDLEY "Luke Brindley" Aer Music

THERE ARE SEVERAL reasons singer-songwriter Luke Brindley's new self-titled solo CD qualifies as one of the year's best roots-rock releases, though it arrives just under the wire and took only three days to record. For one thing, it doesn't sound as if it were made on the fly.

Far from it. In fact, if Brindley and producer Jared Bartlett didn't put a lot of thought into making this CD, choosing the songs and working out arrangements, they leave no clue. This isn't a big production, but a well-crafted and fairly seamless one, a collection of tunes that consistently makes the most of Brindley's raspy voice, soulful delivery and impressive guitar work.

The album opens with "Never Alone" and other horn-charged reminders of Brindley's Jersey roots, songs that somehow manage to sound neither dated nor overly derivative -- no small achievement given Bruce Springsteen's looming shadow. Not long afterward comes an elegantly melodic acoustic guitar take on "Love Minus Zero/No Limit," a quiet, mid-album reaffirmation of Bob Dylan's influence. Brindley's disarmingly engaging way with a simple love song is also evident, and, as the certifiably catchy "Never Forget My Love" illustrates, it's a gift that brightly complements the album's reflective ballads and subtly atmospheric backdrops.

Brindley and Bartlett, who also plays guitar, are supported throughout the session by a lot of local talent, including Brindley's brother Daniel on keyboards, pedal steel guitarist Dave Van Allen, saxophonist Chris Watling and trumpeter Kevin Cordt. Here's hoping that Brindley gets lots of opportunities to work with the same band in concert.

-- Mike Joyce

Appearing at Jammin' Java on Friday and Saturday.