On the self-penned presser for his new album Look Into It Bill Lloyd describes himself as ‘willfully eclectic’ for refusing to pick a genre and just do that. Good on him say fans who see Lloyd’s genre diversity as a real strength. He’s a whole lot of country and rock and roll. This album outing is no different. Come to think of it, Willfully Eclectic might have made a more apt album title for this diverse collection. There’s Steve Earle-inflected outlaw-country here on “Aroma Dollhead” and “Half Mast.” Bluegrass gets a look in with “Bunny in the High Grass.” You  can get your jangle fix during “Look Into It” and “This Ain’t My Parade.” Some tracks like “The After Party Party” and “Game Show Stars of the 1970s” are delivered with a wry grin. There’s even a reggae turn on “Don’t Watch Me.” But for me the album’s strengths are to be found in Lloyd mastery of the melodic rock form. Take “She Cheated on her Pain” or “We Can Drive” – the observational lyrics ride over subtle melodic hooks in a style familiar to us from the work of Marshall Crenshaw, Freedy Johnston, Mark Everett (particularly in his ‘Man Called E’ guise), and many others. Or simply go directly to this album’s star should-be single IMHO, “Keep The Place Clean.” This track is pure pop magic in both composition and execution. Clean guitar lines set the stage for some initially understated vocals, occasionally buffeted by seductive pedal steel, only to bait the hook with a seriously Beatlesque ear-worm in the chorus. Overall the tune reminds me of the mood of Babylon and On, Squeeze’s 1987 comeback album. It’s ‘instant replay’ material for sure.

With his latest record Bill Lloyd delivers serious variety in one highly listenable package. Really, you’d be missing out not to Look Into It.