Ordinary Man reeks of California-- the consistent mid-tempo rhythm, the laid-back guitar, and the overly cool sing/speak whiteboy hip-hop vocals. Even the lyrics are distinctly Californian; the opening track, "Waiting for a Break," tells the tale of a typical naïve actor arriving in Hollywood.

So you'd think that Phelim Byrne and Donnie Hardwidge, the boys in Day One, are from California. But they aren't. Nope, Phelim Byrne, who lends amazingly Californian vocals to Ordinary Man, is actually from Ireland. He and Hardwidge now live in Bristol, England, where this album was recorded. So where does the California sound come from? My theory is that the similarity between California groups is a result of similar influences-- ranging from old-school hip-hop to jazz to classic rock-- rather than a result of direct imitation.

It's difficult to compare Day One's sound to any indie music, since it's not indie rock. If anything, it sounds like manufactured mainstream pop/hip-hop fusion ensembles like LFO. But unlike bad Top 40 groups, Day One never engages in pop culture-inflected lyrics, phony R&B; vocal posturing, corporate plugs, or typically shoddy musical arrangements. Instead, Day One combines tasteful pop arrangements with some tasty, if occasionally goofy, hip-hop narrative to create music which, when taken in small doses, can be genuinely enjoyable.

Each song on Ordinary Man plays out like its own little story. Though most of these stories seem to revolve around Phelim's experience with women, the subject matter remains fresh-- Phelim puts a different spin on the topic on each outing. On "Trying Too Hard," Phelim tells of his difficult, long-winded pursuit of a witty chick, whereas "Bedroom Dancing," with its funky keyboards and erogenous moans, tells of a more direct sexual conquest. Disturbingly, the title track, with its repeating piano part and sappy lyrics, bears a striking resemblance to Elton John's "Your Song."

All said, Ordinary Man's standout tracks-- the cheery "In Your Life" and "Trying Too Hard"-- are well-crafted, well-executed songs. But the rest of the album wears thin too quickly. By the time the album's ended, you probably won't want to listen to it again for a while. But it can't be denied that Byrne and Hardwidge are on to something. Even if Ordinary Man is a bit low on variety, and a bit high on cheese, it sure as all hell isn't ordinary.

-Matt LeMay