DAVE PRESTON & THE GROWN UPS: Hooker Street

Following the stripped-down acoustic traditionalism of his previous release, Way Out West, Dave Preston has issued Hooker Street, a country- and soul-tinged bit of rock. Not just the instrumentation has changed, but the tone has shifted, too. While Way Out West moved at a rural pace, letting each song develop on its own, Hooker Street is assertive bordering on aggressive on some tracks.

“War” incorporates a horn section providing response to Preston’s vocals, his guitar punctuating both the vocal lead and the horn choruses. The mid-tempo arrangement and Preston’s rapid-fire vocals set against a tenor sax solo recall early Dire Straits.

“Used to Be My Baby Doll” is an up-tempo broken-hearted rocker with an infectious melodic hook and some great guitar solo work. “Golden Rule” is a slowly rolling dirge anchored by harmonica and soaring background vocals.

The most charming piece here may be “Ghosts Live in This Town,” a sort of Latin-Western shuffle with a swirling, hypnotic, rhythmic figure underscoring Preston’s semi-hoarse vocals and Mario Jativa’s saxophone fills.

Nearly as fetching is the last song on the album, “Father of the Sun.” Sung and played at a stately pace, Preston’s evocative lyrics are poetic, moving, and timeless:

Taking every breath
While standing in the night
There’s an ocean full of doubt
I’m just trying to get it right

The album is only eight tracks, just 41 minutes, but every song is a gem with no filler and no wasted space.