If all you're looking for is feel-good, leave-you-beaming songs with catchy, but not-too-deep lyrics, don't bother listening to Brett Dennen's new album, Hope for the Hopeless. It's so much better than that.

This California-native singer/songwriter offers quite a few interesting, completive tracks on the album. His distinctive, soulful vocals set the perfect backdrop for the nature of his music, which can only be described as kind of realistically somber, with just a hint of cautious optimism. Some of his best tracks, "Heaven" and "When She's Gone," manage to give off a melancholy feeling without being too pessimistic.

Dennen does give a few more upbeat tracks, namely "Make You Crazy." This lively, stuck-in-your-head song features lots of different percussion elements and consequently gives off a sort of African beat. Its fun, danceable melody is complement by the overtly-political lyrics ("They will throw you up in prison, but they won't call it slavery. There are stolen children raised and trained in armies"), which really make you stop and think, "It's enough to make you go crazy, and I'd be crazy not to care."

Dennen balances his very message-heavy tracks, like "Make You Crazy," "Heaven" and "Who Do You Think You Are," with a few empowering post-breakup songs. The opening track, "San Francisco," and the possibly too long "Wrong about Me" tell beautifully-crafted stories about opportunities lost, one-sided regret, and moving on. They are filled with rich imagery and vibrant details, giving them a more personal feel.

Because the real prize in this album is without a doubt the lyrics, it really needs to be given more than one run through. After hearing the lyrics the first time, you can look past the incredible stories to find the great songs. Most of them hold up against the repetition test, but a few, "World Keeps Turning" and the almost five minute-long closing track "Ain't Gonna Lose You," simply get tired out a little to quickly to make a positive lasting impression.

Overall, Dennen's lyrics are both emotionally and mentally exhausting, in the best possible way. Many of today's artists could learn a thing or two about crafting honest songs that really connect with the listener from this wonderfully fresh singer. Hope for the Hopeless is definitely an album worth your time.