LIFE IN THE LUSH LANE

“BOOMTOWN.” David & David. A&M.; Thematically, this debut from the duo of Davids Baerwald and Ricketts is straight SoCal right out of the Eagles--the guy bidding “Welcome to the Boomtown” could just as well be the desk clerk at the Hotel California. Most of the songs deal with life in the fast lane as observed by someone who has managed to find an off-ramp, though “River’s Gonna Rise” varies the view with a fairly direct assessment of the situation in South Africa. Sonically, the album more often than not recalls latter-day Roxy Music, with lush atmospheres conveying a weariness that effectively complements the lyrics’ jaded anger. Though neither as stunning nor ground-breaking, “Boomtown” succeeds at the ‘70s-’80s meld that marked Don Henley’s “Building the Perfect Beast” LP.