Criminally simple

In interviews to promote this album, lead singer Matt MacDonald said he set out to write a set of songs that were simple but great.

Well, he got the “simple” part right.

“Vagabonds” has a lot of “whoa-oh” choruses and chord progressions that will be familiar to fans of modern rock music. As a result, the album is catchy at first, but fails to maintain the listener’s interest upon repeat.

The exception is “Solar Powered Life,” a short, kicky rock shuffle made for arena sing-alongs.

MacDonald’s voice retains the gritty passion that made the band’s last album, “The Silver Cord,” such a treat, but it’s a shame that he didn’t write songs that matched the aggression and power that his voice is capable of rendering.