Band: Philip Stevenson

Album: Starless

Grade: C-

Record label: Night World

Sounds like: A… Band: Philip Stevenson

Album: Starless

Grade: C-

Record label: Night World

Sounds like: A deeper-voiced Jesse Malin

It would be unfair to say an album called Starless is as dark and depressing as a night sky — it’s not quite that bleak.

But Philip Stevenson’s release is definitely not the brightest sky, either, so to speak.

The first track “Anatomy” opens with a smooth, soft rock feeling and an even softer voice. Stevenson is barely distinguishable, as he harmonizes with his guitar and loses his vocals among the chords.

In the next track, Stevenson follows a similar pattern before finally slowing down from a rock guitar to an acoustic melody. Titled “Fix Me,” there’s no savior in sight. Stevenson’s voice goes from harmonizing to gravelly.

It’s not the music that’s bad. In fact, if this review focused on the music, the album would be much better overall. It would be entirely comprised of a mixture of soft rock to hard rock, from acoustic to jazzy — an eclectic mix yet smooth and refreshing product.

The random 12-second jazz music intervals inserted between three tracks would sound fine. Bad track titles like “I’m A Boy” might even slide.

But with a voice that is hardly remarkable, very little supports Stevenson’s album beyond some pleasant chords.