Jump on Board [LP]

Jump on Board is Texas' first full-length collection of new material since 2013's The Conversation -- 2015's Texas 25 was an anniversary celebration largely dedicated to re-recordings of old songs -- and if Texas don't push boundaries here, there is some appeal in how they settle into their groove. The biggest shift is how the group accentuates its smooth soul with a heavy dose of subdued disco. It's not enough to refurbish Texas' by now reliable blend of upscale pop and classic soul, but it does provide a glossy new coat of paint to a cozy, familiar environ, which is enough to make Jump on Board a bit of a reassuring listen: it doesn't surprise but it doesn't seem stuck, which gives the album a mellow appeal. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine