On his latest album, New Orleans, Clarence Bucaro revisits a project he shelved prior to releasing 2008’s ’Til Spring. Backed by an all-star ensemble, including sousaphonist Kirk Joseph and guitarist Anders Osborne, with whom Bucaro also shares production credits, this ten-song suite depicts the journeyman’s love affair with the Crescent City.

Steeped in blue-eyed soul, New Orleans finds Bucaro peeling away the singer-songwriter sheen of his earlier records, foregoing roots-tempered wonderment in favor of lovesick balladry. It’s a sound that the 29-year-old singer struggles with throughout. While there’s no denying that Bucaro possesses a clever way with words and a powerful set of pipes, more often than not, he fails to shine as much as he could. Early on, lengthy lyrics and somewhat lumbered phrasing leave the fetching “Light in Your Eyes” hanging on an over-sweetened hook. The slinky, stripped-down soul of “Unfulfilled Love” flickers with promise until creaky metaphors like “I am wrestling like an addict / fighting hard to kick this habit” poke holes in the plush melody.

Not before the stirring, Stax-flavored gem “Standing on Old Ground” does the album really establish a strong, revealing tone. Organist Mike Burkhart’s B3 swells sweep up the fervent chorus, “Standing on old ground looking through new eyes” as a loose-limbed groove simmers in the background. The poignant acoustic showcase “It’s Only You Tonight” captures a bit of Bucaro’s nuanced singer-songwriter magic, and the sizzling blues rocker “The Other End” rivals John Mayer’s catchy crossover appeal. There’s absolutely no touching the smoldering passion of “Let Me Let Go of You,” New Orleans’ strongest composition, and the simple, spirited beauty of the piano-flecked love song “Abandoned Mind” makes for a compelling listen.