As the lead singer and songwriter for the Smithereens, Pat DiNizio established his gift for ’60s pop pastiche, so it comes as a surprise that much of his debut solo album, Songs and Sounds, is a clear departure from his chosen idiom. There are several jangly, Beatlesque pop tunes, but DiNizio also explores darker territory and tests the waters of jazz, bouncing between torch songs and lounge music. DiNizio retains his gift for catchy, effortless melodies, and that ties together the diverse strands of the record. Songs and Sounds is the kind of record he couldn’t have made with the Smithereens, and that’s what makes it such a welcome effort. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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