Jackie Greene has had some decent buzz surrounding him ever since he was discovered at an open mic night back in 2002, and with several solid albums under his belt it’s no surprise that his latest, Til the Light Comes is more than easy on the ears.  The album starts off with “Shaky Ground,” a fun easy going single that is exactly what you have come to expect from Jackie, and if this is the pace you are looking for then you are in for a treat.  Songs like “Medicine,” “Grindstone,” “Spooky Tina” and the title track “Til the Light Comes” are fun, light, and will get stuck in your head all day.  Luckily, although these songs are extremely likable and catchy you never get the feeling that Jackie is “phoning it in,” as he always comes across as genuine and evokes a sense of honesty in the music.  Never one to be put in a box Jackie changes up the pace and treads some new ground with songs like “Stranger in Sand,” which reminds me of watching slow moving clouds dissipate on a summer day, “The Holy Land,” which demonstrates some of his story telling skills and “1961″ that gives off an Allman Brothers “Melissa” vibe.

Jackie definitely has chops beyond the pop but seems to know how to stack an album so that it never drags, gets boring or disappoints.  A short album with just 10 songs running about 45 minutes long, Til the Light Comes feels like a bit of a tease and I look forward to more good albums from Mr. Greene, as I’m sure there is plenty more to come.

Just like all of the rest of his albums, you can listen to Till the Light Comes in its entirety on Jackie’s website.

Highlights:

Medicine
Grindstone
1961