An industrious veteran of the local songwriting scene, Micah McKee has a distinctive voice, sweet but crackling, with a professional’s attention to detail. On this release, his band Little Maker gives him everything he could ask for, as does essential production by Allison Davis and Jeff Beninato. The result is a satisfying album that makes up for its lack of surprises with the substance of its vision.

Emotions swell atop horns and the occasional keys, and the guitar work matches the dancing pace of McKee’s lyrics. McKee doesn’t offer much in the way of catchy choruses, a difficult choice for a songwriter. “Chichen Itza” is a fine track, but the only hook is “Friends don’t let friends drink alone.” The trade-off are bittersweet letters such as “LA Story (Alright Too),” which uses harmony and McKee’s believability to convey a stiff upper lip without overdoing the refrain. “We Won the War” is similarly direct in its demand for optimism and camaraderie.

Variety is a little lacking here, both in structure and content. These are endearing songs with smart changes executed by a crack acoustic outfit. Boozy promises, the weather, travel—these are all wonderful things about life. McKee remains loyal to that territory, navigating it with skill and, most importantly, enthusiasm. There may be other roads, but McKee shows us the joy of holding steady in ones choices.