This is music which deserves to be heard.

Unfortunately, though the album debuted at #83 in Billboard the first week of release, radio stations have, at least in the region, been reluctant to pick up his singles. Which is a damned dirty shame. "Industry" blends Ben Folds with Billy Joel to form a solid pop effort, and "Praying To The Wrong God" has the sound which pushed the music of Augustana and Matt Kearney to the top of the charts recently. Still, I was told by a DJ from local station WLBC in Muncie, Ind., that the station doesn't pick up music from local artists until they're in general top 40 rotation.

That's the kind of response that keeps great regional bands from making it nationally. It's a defeatist cycle: local artist makes good by producing an impressive debut, which manages to sell moderately out of the gate thanks to strong word of mouth. But without radio stations to play the song and hype a single (which would keep the album in the minds of consumers) it's impossible for one to break a single, even locally.

That said, Indiana is one of the best examples of pop tunesmith to come out this year. Aside from the potential singles I've mentioned, "Just Giving Time" has everything fans of Harry Connick Jr. could ask for and more, an ear-catching melody coupled with smooth vocals and backed competantly enough to encourage repeat listens. And the album tracks (including the intriguing "Amelia's Missing" and the album's centerpiece, "Anthem for American Teenagers") provide a sense of balance to the affair, making Indiana more than the sum of its parts.

This is a confident album from a songwriter who knows his craft. It's hard to imagine a singer with Jon McLaughlin's vocal chops not making it in the pop world, where hooks are king -- and he's got hooks covered here. If Indiana can successfully provide a springboard for at least one of these great singles to reach radio, this guy's going to be a household name by Labor Day.