Yours Truly (Deluxe Version)

Thirteen years after the passing of front man Bradley Nowell, Sublime returns with a new lead singer and a spruced-up sound. On their first album with the band, Rome Ramirez displays plenty of easy-going vocal attitude with a distinct Jamaican flavor, backed up with crisp, in-the-pocket guitar work. For their part, drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson reaffirm the mastery of slippery dance grooves that they displayed during Sublime’s ‘90s heyday. Tracks like “Take It or Leave It,” “Lovers Rock” and “Same Old Situation” move with an undulating reggae skank as Ramirez holds forth on the joys and hassles of everyday romance. Adding some extra sizzle to the simmering ambiance of the album are “Paper Cuts” (a punky flashback to Sublime’s early days) and “Can You Feel It” (sparked up by dub effects and Wiz Khalifa’s rap break). Ramirez gets mildly political on “Only,” but for the most part keeps the lyric mood light and festive. On its own terms, Yours Truly more than succeeds as a smile-inducing, groove-powered excursion.