In his previous incarnation as the roots rock band Mannix, singer and songwriter Joe Mannix peeled off a pair of acclaimed albums, 1999's Pretty Strange and 2001's Come to California, both of which were loosely considered concept pieces. On those albums, Mannix was favorably held up to fellow Nor'easter Joe Pernice and noted mopemeister Elliott Smith as well as Bob Dylan and Neil Young. There are elements of all of those on Mannix's self-released solo album, White Flag and, as on his first two albums, Mannix revisits the idea of a song cycle, this time primarily about the pain of being left behind in its myriad emotional contexts. With the largely acoustic (but still well-populated) White Flag, Mannix offers glimpses of his previously noted influences but also draws upon his earlier pop heroes, from Paul McCartney ("Silver Girl") to Iain Mathews ("Caroline") to early Billy Joel ("Higher Intervention") to a less smug and smart-assed Loudon Wainwright III ("Bellerose Hill", "Bamboo"). There is a tremendous balance between Mannix's pop persona and his folky foundation and it is the fact that he rarely veers too far in either direction that makes White Flag a consistently enjoyable listen.

- BRIAN BAKER