These are songs I love to hear. It’s as simple as that. Of course it helps that Doug Ferony, given his gutsy and joyful exploration of them, also likes them too. His new album, Alright Okay You Win, is the traditional pop vocal album that your ears have been longing for. The arrangements live up to the level that such solid standards demand, and the big-band flair has never felt so boldly present. Ferony knows what these songs are all about and he drives each one as if it were a convertible with the top down on a breezy coastal dusk, with infinite stars starting to appear above. Each note, a star appearing for a moment. Together, a brilliant constellation.

When an album this generous with its musicianship, its style, its taste, and its gift for capturing the love of performing comes along, there’s only one thing to say: alright, okay, we all win.