B Gavin DeGraw

(J Records)

SECOND STUDIO ALBUM, FINALLY: It took New Yorker Gavin DeGraw five years to follow his major-label debut, 2003's Chariot, which was then rerecorded acoustically and retitled Chariot Stripped in 2004. He enjoyed success thanks to the Top 10 single "I Don't Want to Be." The new, self-titled effort has a slightly more rocked-up sound, but fear not, the singer-songwriter still delivers the passionate vocals and singalong choruses.

COOL SINGLE SETS THE TONE: The lead track, "I'm in Love With a Girl," represents the disc well. It's a catchy, wall-of-sound morsel that gets better with each listen. Ditto for "Next to Me," "Cop Stop" and the closing number, "We Belong Together." Mr. DeGraw is part of that new breed of male artists that can sing, play and write. Think John Mayer and Jason Mraz. They offer hope for the survival of modern-day pop music that hasn't been tainted by rap and hip-hop's dominance.

BOTTOM LINE: Pop it into the car CD player, bring down the windows, amp it full-blast and just drive.

Mario Tarradell