Seraphina Lotkhamnga on February 23rd, 2011

0

Singer-songwriter Ari Hest’s new “Sunset Over Hope Street” (due March 1 on Downtown Records), represents his first album in four years, but the hard-touring New Yorker hasn’t been slouching. In 2008, he completed his Web-based “52” project, for which he wrote, recorded and released a new song each Monday for a year. He followed that up in 2009 with a collection of re-recorded fan favorites titled “Twelve Mondays.” His new release offers another batch of melodic, introspective pop-rock, and the first single “How Would I Know” continues to display his compassionate, hopeful side. Directed by Josh Franer, the accompanying video tugs all the right heartstrings; the 31-year-old songwriter seldom overreaches, and often yields sentiments warm enough for these cold winter days.

||| Live: Ari Hest plays March 31 at the Hotel Cafe.