The music is not actually completely typical of Lanois, although he wrote all the songs but two (“Last Time” and “Ring the Alarm”). A mixed bag of reggae beats (“I Believe in You”), straight up rock with Lanois trademark production values (“Love Lives”), soulful ballads (“Surely”) and trip-hop/jazz (“Slow Baby”), the album can take a while to adjust to; hang in there because it’s really worthwhile. It took me a few spins to fall deeply in love with the sheer creativity and musicianship ,enjoying the satisfaction of deciphering someone else’s headspace and making it my own.
