With story songs that reference local history, as in “Holly Beach,” and jovially friendly love songs, such as “Courtesy of Valerie,” it’s easy to see what has made singer-songwriter and Shreveport-native Patrick Cooper much liked. Clean, acoustic guitar work—often just Cooper accompanying himself—and the kind of breezy Jimmy Buffett-style tenor that gives every song an affable intimacy make this collection easy to listen to, and the accompaniments by guitarist Dwight Breland and harmonica player Andy J. Forest are tasteful. Plus, Cooper’s production gives these light tunes a clean and airy feel. But, too many of these 13 songs sound like generic coffeehouse Americana and Cooper’s pleasant voice alone doesn’t make for memorable music. With no real sense of urgency or commitment, Gris Gris in Your Face is basically a one-note collection, in which even the blues (such as “No Time to Cry”) seem to bounce along in a mid-tempo happy place. The few exceptions are notable: “She Leads With Her Heart” accesses some believable melancholy, the palpable feeling in Cooper’s mild vibrato picked up by Breland’s pedal steel, while “Happy Boy Blues” bounces along with some complexity, thanks largely to Forest’s lively harmonica. These are the standouts, however. While this would be fine music for happy hour, it leaves little lasting impression.