Good to Be...

As an album title, Good to Be... drifts off on a wave of ellipses, but on the record itself, it's presented as "Good to Be (Home Again)," making the spirit of Keb' Mo's 15th studio album explicit: he's settled into a comfortable groove, appreciating good vibes and mellow grooves. Despite cameos from Darius Rucker and Americana stalwarts Old Crow Medicine Show, there's not a pronounced country or folk undercurrent here. Good to Be... is cut from the same cloth as 2011's slick, soulful The Reflection, only it's even smoother and mellower -- so low-key, it can veer into adult contemporary territory, a connection underscored by Kristin Chenoweth's appearance on the album closer "Quiet Moments." If Good to Be... sometimes is a little too cozy -- it's executed well and its unifying spirit is evident, but a cover of "Lean on Me" still feels a little overly familiar -- it's nevertheless a warm, welcoming album that's every bit as soothing and comforting as Keb' Mo' intended it to be. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine