One of the best of 2007
Brandon takes a huge step forward with Golden State. For a second album, he shows a lot of maturity. Personal favorites include "Beachwood" into "Golden State,"... a perfect introduction, Beachwood's soft and gentle melody invites you in, and Golden State's layers of Brian Wilson-esque splendor pours you a drink and suggests that you'll probably want to stay a while. This is one of those rare albums that maintains interest without overwhelming you; it happily sits in the background and sets the mood when necessary, but the lyrics and layers make it great to lose yourself in, as well.