Zank’s new album, Without a Bridge, sounds like a primer for how
to make a pop album, right down to the key changes. The
construction is there — harmonies in the right place, solos
expertly executed — but the songs lack originality. With a sound
mastered in the ’90s by bands such as Train and Counting Crows,
Zank is treading on trodden ground with Bridge, however tight
the arrangement.  Much of the album showcases Zank’s vocals, as
opposed to ensemble performances by the crew of studio
musicians. This is one of the album’s biggest flaws, as Zank’s
country-tinged, alt-folk voice does best against a backdrop
rather than over the top of stripped-down guitars on tracks such
as “Wonderful” and “Stay.”  Overall, Zank does a good job with
what he’s written. Some tracks are more inventive, like the
slightly dark “Like Flowers for the Sun,” which features a
haunting electric guitar and timely cymbal crescendos. Opener
“Sorry” stands out as one of the stronger tracks on the album,
with its driving rhythm and rising har