Jimmy Needham

Not Without Love
Inpop Records

Jimmy Needham’s sophomore record is full of the same sort of bluesy guitar/piano balladry a la Gavin DeGraw, Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz that marked his impressive debut “Speak.” Also returning are the clever lyrics, which, though still reflecting a biblical worldview, seem a bit more laidback. Until, that is, the final track, on which the slam poet in Needham is released with even more I-once-was-lost-now-I’m-found intensity than we heard on his last record. When the CD stops, you’re left not only in the wake of a young man with obvious talent, but a young man who knows it and isn’t afraid to use it to tackle issues of substance. Needham’s star is rising.