Ink

Quick on the heels of the release of his most recent EP, Tokyo Sessions, Lawrence singer-songwriter Sam Billen issues his second full-length, Headphones & Cellphones.

While Tokyo Sessions was an introspective and minimalist offering, the 10-song Headphones & Cellphones seems more a reflection of Billen’s inspirations, namely ’70s AM Gold and more modern, soul-infused Top 40 pop music. Think Christopher Cross meets J.Lo meets Death Cab for Cutie.

This brand of indie pop by the former Billions frontman could be compared to that of the Postal Service, as Billen does a good job of mixing soft, sweet melodies with dancy, electro backbeats. But he goes in a slightly different direction, adding a sprinkle of R&B to his mellow pop, a la Hall & Oates.

The album starts with “Bandaids,” a memorable guitar- and piano-accompanied electro-pop song. Like two relay runners making a smooth pass, the slow, midpaced melody gets picked up by the second song, “The Garden,” with hardly a hiccup, taking over the same groovy lyrical cadence and beat.

It's a perfect example of the thoughtfulness Billen put into this album. Not your standard three- or four-chord indie pop, Headphones & Cellphones is intricate and highly orchestrated. Billen may have used samples and drum machines, but he took care to program them in such a way that the album comes off sounding classy, not cheesy.

The song “Different Lives” showcases Billen’s complex arrangements with its fluttery strings, urban-beat rhythm choices, deep sub-bass tones and dramatic breakdown. Meanwhile, “Sleepwalker” issues every ’70s trick in the book, reminding one of the layered sounds and vocals of Electric Light Orchestra.

Another standout number, “Summer of ’95,” goes into full-on radio-pop mode with its soul-inspired drum beats and falsetto harmonies. The song, full of wistful oohs and ahhs, is a look back at a carefree time. Like a confident auctioneer, Billen repeatedly spits out the line “I never wanted to go home, not because I didn’t wanna see my parents, but because I thought I needed to be alone.”

While he’s always in top form when it comes to vocals, some of the lyrics on this album come off as too obvious. For instance, in the pretty, piano-heavy “Choices,” he just scratches the surface when he sings “Choices, we make them all the time. And those choices, they could ruin your life.” It’s a departure from the more inspired lyrics of Tokyo Sessions, created while on a trip to Japan.

Headphones & Cellphones is well-plotted-out and polished. Each track has a specific theme, cadence and rhythm. Billen just needs to dig deeper lyrically. With his soothing voice and thoughtful song arrangements, this singer-songwriter could go far.