At 74, and 55 years after founding The Modern Lovers, hero Jonathan Richman is back with Only Frozen Sky Anyway, a quietly dazzling collection of 12 new songs that proves his poetic charm is as unfiltered and endearing as ever—it’s incredible how fresh, eager and original everything sounds. Backed by longtime friends Jerry Harrison (keys) and Tommy Larkins (drums, percussion), the legendary American singer/guitarist wanders through acoustic folk, and Spanish-inflected rhythms with the casual mastery of someone who’s always written songs more for communion than consumption.

The opening track that gives the album its title sets the tone with Richman’s signature blend of cosmic musings and kitchen-table intimacy. What follows is even better, loosely centered around the theme of loss and return, delivered with gentle grace. What we get here is classic Jonathan Richman—funny, poignant, and disarmingly wise. Listen to him totally make the Bee Gees’ 1978 disco hit Night Fever his own (try not to smile), but there are plenty of highlights among the self-penned tracks, too.

Only Frozen Sky Anyway—created in a single 5-day recording session earlier this year, produced by Jonathan Richman, Jerry Harrison and Nicole Montalbano—is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, trough Blue Arrow Records. Also featuring Lynn Asher (vocals), Tracy Blackman (vocals), Aishlin Harrison (vocals), Donn Spindt (drums,) Tommy Dunbar (guitar, vocals), John Rubin (vocals), Al Chan (vocals), Jake Sprecher (vocals), Marty Parker (vocals), David Alvarez (guitar, vocals), Kenny Parker (guitar, vocals), and Nicole Montalbano (tamboura) on select tracks.

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