Albert Hammond Jr.

Albert Hammond Jr.

Yours to Keep (New Line)

The solo debut from Albert Hammond Jr. doesn't have the stylish and sexy six-string swagger one would expect from the 'froed Strokes guitarist, but it does yield enough Top 40 radio gems to spark a small feud with Liam Gallagher. Opener "Cartoon Music for Superheroes" finds the Beach Boys by way of the Shins, a dreamy and heavily textured ditty that incorporates the tinkering of what sounds like a ballerina music box. Hammond's vocals echo that of the Strokes' songsmith, Julian Casablancas, who cameos alongside Sean Lennon and Ben Kweller, especially on the Room on Fire-esque "In Transit" and "Everyone Gets a Star." The acoustic "Blue Skies" and "Scared" lean closer toward his composer father's legacy, while the punk rock power chords in bonus track "Postal Blowfish" scream "Take It or Leave It." Is it a keeper? Definitely maybe. (Thursday, March 15, Blender Bar @ the Ritz, 1am)