Tim O'Reagan (self-titled)

The Jayhawks were a band with a sound so influential it moved their fellow Minnesotans – bands like Soul Asylum have credited the Jayhawks with inspiring their early work. Tim O'Reagan joined the band when it was already established, and spent some time trying to establish his own place within it, but it certainly sounds like some of the songs on his debut self-titled album have been waiting to come out of him for several years.

It's a good thing, really, because at times O'Reagan's originals can sound a little bit like Dan Bern's rockier side. At other times ("Girl/World"), there's an obvious Beatles influence.

O'Reagan certainly has a serious gift for great (read: simple) songwriting. His solo effort is more poppy than the alt.country strivings of his former band, but there's something keeping his melodic tunes from being entirely radio-friendly at the same time.

With that said, despite the dozen or more musicians he uses, O'Reagans songs slip so easily into the background that you just might forget you had the CD on in the first place. That is, until it hits you that this song sounds a little like something George Harrison might write.

Then, as you're contemplating whether or not you've heard this song before, the next thing you know, it's made it's way to the background again.

It's a shame, really. O'Reagan is a hugely talented lyricist with an impeccable sense of melody. The songs on his debut self-titled album are good, they just seem to do their best work in the background.