Edie Brickell & New Bohemians Rocket

Rocket is the second reunion for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians but it's pitched at a decidedly lower key than Stranger Things, their 2006 comeback on Concord. Chalk some of that up to the changed cultural climate. Twelve years later, it was possible for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians to ease back into activity with only the dedicated noticing, a comforting atmosphere that allowed the group to proceed at a relaxed gait. Certainly, Rocket doesn't proceed at the fast clip its title suggests. It rolls easy, balancing jangling pop and folky ballads with mellow funk jams, each sound evoking the glory days of "What I Am" without pandering to nostalgia. As such, Rocket plays like a pleasant visit with an old friend: perhaps the bonds aren't as tight as they once were, but it's nice to hear that they're content and well-adjusted. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

• Genre: Rock
• Format: Vinyl