Matt Costa/The Blank Tapes/Meridian

Singer-songwriter Matt Costa spent the summer of 2005 touring with like-minded singer-songwriter Jack Johnson. You can tell why the two would make good touring buddies. Like Johnson, Costa has a laid-back vocal delivery that has lent itself particularly well to Johnson-helmed projects like the soundtrack to the Curious George flick that came out in 2006 and the Brushfire Records Winter Sampler that arrived that same year. Costa, for his part, has put out a number of EPs and full-lengths, the latest of which is his best album yet. The self-titled album is a lively affair that kicks off with the power pop anthem “Loving You.” It gives way to the retro-sounding “Eyes for You,” a tender tune that recalls Nick Drake’s fragile ballads, all the while striking a nice balance between rock and pop. (Jeff Niesel)