The Lemonheads – Love Chant

When Evan Dando initially thought about writing his first album of original material in nearly two decades, he aimed to assemble a loyal cast of musician friends to rediscover his creative spark. With producer Bryce Goggin on board—whose resume includes the likes of Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr, and Chavez—the veteran singer-songwriter, now based in São Paulo, Brazil, adds a shaggy quality to the material that might turn off those who might expect the pristine power pop he’s known for. It is also, surprisingly, a strength.

The presentation in display might not share the same highs of his seminal 90s album, It’s a Shame About Ray, because how could it ever, but it’s easily Dando’s most authentic body of work since then. His knack for a tuneful melody remains evident, delivering gravelly vocals—think Iggy Pop in the present time—as he flips wildly between jerky rockers (“Deep End”), glam boogie (“Cell Phone Blues”), and jangly Americana (“Togetherness Is All I’m After”).

Even when the songs are arranged fairly straightforwardly, Dando, ever the mercurial songwriter, always adds offbeat touches to make them sound more interesting. On “Wild Thing,” he busts out a bluesy fuzz tone that lightens into an endearing acoustic-led chorus before looping it back to the beginning. The sauntering, bongo-led “The Key to Victory” also shines with its bohemian charm, in which Dando sings about staying true to himself as an intricate fingerpicking pattern plays over a melancholic sonic backdrop.

Not everything works in Love Chant. He tries to sound self-serious with his stream-of-consciousness rambling on “Marauders,” but instead, comes across as artfully silly. Still, it’s just one of the many fun detours that Dando takes throughout the album, one whose existence—given his history of substance dependency—feels like a small miracle in itself.

Love Chant is out now via Fire Records.