Christopher Owens, former Girls frontman, releases his first solo effort, showcasing some of his tightest songwriting yet.

Many of the songs include playful arrangements that are less guitar-heavy, taking inspiration from 1970s singer-songwriters complete with flourishes such as flutes, saxophone and harmonica. Highlights like “Here We Go,” “Part of Me” and “Here We Go Again,” while light on substance, are well-constructed and effective pop songs that get the job done without overstaying their welcome.

Be sure to stay away from this release if you aren’t into shamelessly sentimental lyrics — those seem to be Owen’s specialty. One major flaw is the repetition of a single musical theme throughout the album, in every song, which quickly begins to bore.  Otherwise, this is a solid release and a promising solo debut.