"You can learn all there is to know about life from Sesame Street" asserted Doctor J.D. Dorian (played by Zach Braff) in one episode of the popular TV series Scrubs.
Among the examples given to prove this theory were the basic principles that you should always play nice and recognise that it's ok to cry when you feel unhappy.
In the background, as Dr. Dorian espoused his homely wisdom, the dulcet tones of Joshua Radin can be heard singing a slowed down, 'sad' version of the Sesame Street theme tune.
It is through Scrubs and his friendship with Zach Braff that Radin got his first big break, when his song 'Winter' was used during an episode in season 2 of the show. In the scene at a funeral of a patient, the normally hard-nosed Dr Cox comes the realise that it's ok to cry sometimes.
Since then, Radin's quiet, attractive, unassertive, songs have been placed in numerous other TV series and movies. Given this kind of exposure, Radin can say with good reason that "film is the new radio" .
As a consequence of this, his 2006 debut album We Were Here was a big seller and for 'Simple Times', his sophomore release, he's not in the mood to abandon a winning formula. Who can blame him?
He has recruited top producer Rob Snapf (Elliot Smith, Beck) to guarantee a crisp, uncomplicated sound to the eleven catchy songs.
On the cover we see Radin is sitting in a sand play box and the CD booklet is decorated with childhood snapshots. From this, and the album title, the message seems to be 'keep it simple and love your family'.
Actually a good subtitle to this collection would also be 'More songs about friends and monogamy'.On I'd Rather Be With You, Radin sings "I need to grow older with a girl like you" while on Sky he begs "say you'll stay forever mine". Even a song with a slightly harder edge (You've Got Growing Up To Do) - a duet with pop/country queen Patty Griffin - he sings "the best thing I can do is to leave" but then follows this up with is a promise (threat?) to return and get married when the growing up is all done.
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These are a unashamedly romantic songs, all written from a personal perspective. They are ideal movie soundtrack material for the dreams, break-ups and consolations of modern love in the media ostensibly because they steer well clear of darker reflections.
Radin comes across as an artist with integrity who values honesty as an essential ingredient in song writing. The drawback to this is that, in going out of his way to accentuate the positive, he gives only the glossy and highly selective version of the truth.
As a result the songs are likeable and hummable in the same way that Simon & Garfunkel classics are but there is neither the pathos of Elliot Smith or the poetry of Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) to give them any greater depth.
The record is essentially an aural equivalent the bright, clean and friendly world of Sesame Street. Appealing only insofar as you can accept the limitations this entails.
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