Golden Days

Appealing to both Christian and secular fans with his thoughtful brand of pop/rock, Dave Barnes comes across as the Guy Next Door, albeit an unusually talented one. Golden Days plays to the singer/songwriter’s strengths by matching bittersweet observations about everyday life with melodies that suggest everyone from John Mayer to Stevie Wonder. As on past releases, Barnes infuses his tunes with a sincerity that makes each song seem autobiographical. He draws on his years as a performer to capture the touring musician’s life at its most joyful (“Twenty-Three”) and wearisome (“Hotel Keys”). Romantic tunes like “Loving Los Angeles” and “All She Wants Is You” paint portraits of yearning lovers with deft strokes. Barnes is a keen-eyed observer of married couples, as revealed in the funk-tinged banter of “Little Civil War.” Golden Days keeps things moving with arrangements that veer into disco (“Can’t She Try”) and ‘60s-style beach music (“Something More”). Faith is a constant (if sometimes subdued) element here, with “Good” standing out for its celebration of a family man’s blessings.