Pretend to Be Brave

Every couple of years, the guys in BOAT reemerge with another amiable slice of guitar rock. 2013's entry in their catalog is called Pretend to Be Brave, and like all their albums, it's a big-hearted, floppy-eared, friendly mutt of an album. Built around the kind of guitar riffs that the guys in Pavement would hear and say "yeah!" and D. Crane's happily shouted vocals, the guys turn in another batch of songs that rock and rollick and basically convey the sound of a bunch of fellas having an excellent time making straight and true rock & roll. They don't make the kind of music that pushes you around and makes demands on you; they play tunes that sidle up and throw an arm around your shoulders and draw you in. It's music for happy road trips, backyard softball games, and late nights when you want to hear songs that will warm your lonely heart. They are joined on a few songs (most notably the very sweet "With the Sea at My Back") by vocalist Shelley Short, and she brings some welcome feminine energy to the mix. If the band were a sitcom (and it seems like they would make a good one, full of good-natured ribbing, semi-drunken escapades, and hugs) she would be the cheery next door neighbor the guys all have a crush on. BOAT have never made flashy records and Pretend to Be Brave doesn't break that streak. They've always made really good, really fun records, and this is another one of those, and maybe their best yet.