TORRENT: Volumes 1 & 2

Will Dailey's Torrent is not a traditional album, but rather a combination of two themed EPs. Like Ryan Adams' Love Is Hell, the first half channels the songwriter's love for past rock traditions — in this case, the jangled sounds of '60s pop/rock and '70s singer/songwriter fare — while the second half shifts its focus to more evocative, acoustic fare. Despite the obvious debt to past genres, Torrent often sounds quite contemporary, mixing crisp production with the sort of family-friendly, instantly enjoyable stuff that routinely finds its way onto TV soundtracks. There's no denying Dailey's desire to be commercial, and his partnership with the music branch of CBS ensures that many of these songs will also appear in the network's shows. Nonetheless, there are enough diversions from the mainstream formula to make this an enjoyable listen, from the power pop gallop of "Never Be Your Baby" to Roger McGuinn's tasteful cameo on "Peace of Mind." Songs like "Down the Drain" and "Laugh It Off" may be better points of entry for those who prefer the soulful, Southern-styled songwriting of Gavin DeGraw, but the bulk of Torrent has more to offer. [To cater to his more discerning listeners, Dailey also released Torrent in double-disc format, with the second disc offering the same album in high-fidelity CODE format.]