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Into the Sun

If you took the artist's name off this record, you'd still be charmed by its dazzling eclecticism and sunny, low-key spirit. But given the weight of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's musical legacy, son Sean's achievement seems all the more impressive. Into the Sun finds the young Lennon working in a wide variety of styles, from the suave bossa nova of the title track and the Beach Boys-fashioned "Queue" to the trippy psychedelia of "Spaceship" and the funky jazz instrumental "Photosynthesis." "Home" offers crunching power chords, while "Part One of the Cowboy Trilogy" is a hokey country send up in the style of his dad's band's "Rocky Raccoon." Holding everything together is Lennon's voice, which is reedy and sometimes a little unwieldy, but as open and honest as his lyrics, many of which are inspired by his girlfriend, Cibo Matto keyboardist Yuka Honda (who co-produced the record). For someone with so much to live up to, Lennon more than acquits himself with this fine debut. --Daniel Durchholz