These two albums by two young New York City bands share a lot: both bands credit one another, swap lead singers on a few cuts, make allusions to Peter Pan and Cyrano, and play intelligent, energetic rock. Blues Traveler’s first album was highlighted by John Popper’s incredible harmonica playing. At times it sounded like a saxophone or synthesizer—the runs were that fast and crisp. Popper’s skill attracted notable fans such as Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana and Gregg Allman, who lends his voice and organ to “Mountain Cry” on Travelers and Thieves.

Surprisingly, the harmonica that brought the band so much attention is less prominent on this second album. The result holds up better to repeated listenings and reaffirms the promise of their debut. Travelers and Thieves is essentially about change. The songs change tempo and key suddenly and fluidly, with a solid rhythm section backing Chan Kinchla’s guitar and Popper’s harmonica. An underlying theme of optimism and social change runs through the album; every song is strong, both lyrically and musically, with the new world order epic “Onslaught,” the anti-war “Tusk” and the life-embracing “Sweet Pain” as standouts. Blues Traveler has proven again they are worthy of their devoted admirers and suitable for the long, strange trip of the next decade.

The songs on the Spin Doctors’ debut full-length LP may be about unrequited love and the problems of the modern urban environment, but they’re nothing to get depressed about. The songs are a collection of guitar-driven melodies over funk-inspired bass lines, with the added bonus of intelligent lyrics. Alternating between the serious (“Forty or Fifty,” “Shinbone Alley”) and the humorous (“Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues,” in which the lowly copy boy tries to neutralize his rival for Lois Lane’s affection with a pocket full of Kryptonite), the volume and humor are at their best live. Don’t miss the band at Jimmy’s on November 3.