Track of the Day: 'Magic'

Jack Dishel is the magician behind the band Only Son. He's an accomplished guitarist, songwriter and producer, with at least one buzzy credit to his name: Back in the early 2000s, he was the lead guitarist for anti-folk heroes The Moldy Peaches.

Working largely on his own these days, with occasional help from friends such as Regina Spektor and two members of The Strokes, he's put out a bang-up new record called Searchlight. If I had to compare him to another contemporary artist, it would be Brendan Benson, though this particular track falls toward the slightly baroque end of the power-pop spectrum, more like The Left Banke's 1960's masterpiece "Walk Away Renee." And, yes, it owes a certain debt to John Lennon, but then most of the genre is deep in hock to The Beatles. And if you do it this well, I have no problem with that.

Dishel has a keen lyrical sensibility, and I'd guess this one is an ode to mystery, to preserving a sense of wonder. That's a refreshing topic, and it's in keeping with the overall ethos of the album. Some tracks are faster; others are noisier, and one even presents sharp social commentary. But none grab you more firmly than this one does.

On iTunes: Only Son / "Magic"