For his second solo album, Mike Gordon plays it a little straighter than his debut. The Green Sparrow is never as strange as moments of Inside In, favoring instead a set of easy rocking tunes that really flow nicely together. Aside from just a few full band cuts, Gordon handles most of the instruments besides drums but he executes so well you wouldn't notice unless you checked the credits. There's an easygoing vibe throughout, even towards the end where the subject matter gets slightly darker. Vocally, he sounds a bit like classic Steve Miller with a laid-back delivery and effortless melodicism that make these tunes breeze by, and of course there's plenty of tasty guitar and bass playing. Perfect for a summer day.