Singer/songwriter Spencer Day's third album, The Mystery of You, is similar to his previously released albums in that the eclectic mix of jazz, pop, and cinematic themes is on display, but the overall tone is much darker. Calling this a concept album wouldn't be too far-fetched, as Day examines three years of his life involving a broken relationship and the extremes of love and loss. Thankfully for the listener, this isn't just a program of nothing but doom and gloom. One of Day's strong points as a songwriter is his avoidance of completely wallowing in heartbreak throughout. He examines the subject with similar stylistic flair as his heroes: Cole Porter, Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, and Paul Simon. Musically, Day fluently shifts between soul, Latin jazz, the scores of Ennio Morricone, early-'60s pop, and film noir soundtracks. The release of this album confirms Spencer Day isn't afraid to examine his surroundings, for better or worse, and will not simply rest on his laurels.
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