Hopefully Dennen gets better

Brett Dennen is one of the most buzzworthy artists around.

Rolling Stone named him as one of its “10 Artists To Watch” in 2007, and this year Entertainment Weekly called him a “guy on the rise.” A former middle-school teacher who taught a class on peace and resolution, Dennen brings that chill resolve to his music.

But I’m not really sold. He has a genuine, West Coast sound, a high-pitched voice and meaningful lyrics. But the lyrics on his new record Hope for the Hopeless fail to hold any weight, and the package doesn’t come together.

He has too much of a happy-go-lucky, innocent and whimsical feel to him, not to mention that his voice can be annoying at times. Really, some songs here remind me of that classic scene of a guy playing an acoustic guitar on the street until someone comes up to him to take the guitar and bash it against a wall. 

“San Francisco” is the first track on the set and has a flimsy pop feel that sets the tone for the album’s direction. It’s a song about going to San Francisco to get over a girl. Please tell me why everyone thinks California will solve your problems?

Nevertheless, the album is not all bad. Aside from the occasional whine in his voice, Dennen’s music really is an easy listen.

The standout track from Hope for the Hopeless is the closer “Ain’t Gonna Lose You,” which sees him slow down the pace. Lyrics like “I can’t stand / the thought of another man / No I ain’t gonna lose you” help the track end on an extremely high note. This song actually feels like Dennen is finally reaching his true songwriting potential and not just singing to kids.

Another one of the standouts here is “Make You Crazy,” which features some of the cool stylings of the African musician Femi Kuti. 

For as much buzz as Brett Dennen has received recently, Hope for the Hopeless is a bit of a letdown. If Dennen completely ditches the kid-friendly act, he’ll have the potential to be great. But until then, his career doesn’t have much hope.