Three years after CRAZYTALK, singer-songwriter and producer Mat Kearney brings on a summertime road-trip vibe with January Flower, his sixth studio album. Even though the full version of January Flower features dance-house moments, the Oregon native, now in Nashville, revisits the more acoustic musical roots he established on his 2006 debut single “Nothing Left to Lose.” 

Kearney opens January Flower with “Powerless,” which features layers of acoustic guitar patterns through the first verse before exploding with percussion and backing vocals. The song touches on “the sound of defeat” in a faltering relationship, but nonetheless has a hopeful and inspirational feel with head-bopping energy as he realizes he’s, “gotta learn to let it go.” Before you know it, he’s looking for love again on “Can’t Look Back,” as guitars, shifty percussion and occasional bursts of synths make for a textured fruit salad of sound.

Kearney’s production skills come out full-speed on “Grand Canyon,” an analogy for space he now feels between him and his partner, while his vocals shift between smooth and soulful and face-paced delivery. “Now we got space babe/ How we gonna cross it,” he wonders. He then turns to nostalgia with a look back at the carefree times, driving with the windows down, on “Pontiac.” It’s heavy again, percussion lined with layers of keys that put a more modern spin on early 2000s styles.

Speaking of the 2000s, you’ll hear more of those elements on “They Don’t Know,” where blends of guitars and soft dance-house beats mix to tell of burning love that requires no other input. Kearney brings back some of the same vocals from “Nothing Left to Lose,” as he hits similar notes and tones in lyrics like, “We can be high/ Or we can be low/ Into the light or out in the cold.”

“Anywhere With You” brings out the shiny beginnings of a romantic relationship, but unfortunately, the production on the full album takes away from the intimacy of the lyrics. Luckily for fans, the song’s acoustic counterpart on an EP he released the prior week suits it much better.

On “Say It Now” Kearney grows deeper in love. Though at the beginning it appears to be calmer and more vulnerable, the song turns into a full-on display as his Chris-Martin-esque vocals are brought out by powerful beats and synths through the rest of the song.

Things slow down a bit on “Stuck in the Moment,” as Kearney reflects on the one who got away over acoustic strumming. Percussion reclaims some of the spotlight, kicking in after the first chorus to make for a head bopper before slowing back down again for a dramatic outro. He’s able to keep up the dancing energy with tracks like “I Don’t Really Care” and “Running in Circles,” even though he feels a little down in the dumps. Like a bird in a cage, he’s growing tired of the ongoing monotony of life and a dull relationship. 

Mat Kearney is able to turn it all around on “Boulder.” He shuts the door to the past and starts a new chapter—looking at life now with the glass half full. “Every change makes something to celebrate,” he sings, the song leaning on the acoustic guitar for a soothing melody. Kearney continues wearing his heart on his sleeve with the flowery, apologetic “Blame,” before making amends once more on “Something Beautiful,” closing out the album on an intimate and poetic moment.

Follow writer Amelia Parreira at Twitter.com/AmeliaParreira.