MOVE BY YOURSELF - DONOVAN FRANKENREITER
Surfer pro by day, sunburned rock star by night, Donovan Frankenreiter is living the dream. Ready to ride his own sonic waves, the California-bred singer/songwriter steps out of longtime buddy Jack Johnson’s shadow. Recorded on analog tape with a superb band, Frankenreiter’s sophomore set is a breezy mix of Motown soul, bar-band blues and acoustic sunset ballads. Funky standouts like the wah-wah pedal-meets-orchestra “The Way It Is” and the Curtis Mayfield-inspired title track are perfect summer groove jams, and man-with-guitar footnote “Beautiful Day” delivers a soulful campfire meditation. Indeed, “Move by Yourself” is packed with flip-flop-friendly, feel-good anthems that boast catchy hooks and laid-back ’70s vibes. But while Frankenreiter’s vocals have grown more versatile, his melodies are too predictable, and one wishes — not without jealousy — that the blissed-out lyrics would occasionally surf beyond the beach-life formula.Billboard
