Brett Dennen "Comeback Kid"

Sequels are hard.

You want to create the success of the first film, and hit many of the same notes that the original audience enjoyed. But hew too closely to the formula, and you lose any of the pleasure of the first film that came from surprise.

So it goes with second singles.

Your artist has a break-through hit with the first tune on the album. How do you choose a follow-up?

I mean, mostly likely, the full album has a range of sounds. Slow songs, fast songs, loud, quiet, etc.

Pick the song that has nothing in common with the first single, and you may not touch the audience that responded to the original charm.

But pick the song that sounds too much like the first single, and you risk giving the impression that your artist is a Johnny One Note.

I wasn't too sure about this song as the second single from Brett Dennen's latest album, "Loverboy."

"Sydney" was such a cool, fun, surprising song from him. But the first couple of times I heard "Comeback Kid" I felt like it was a very, very close cousin to the first song.

Having been a fan of his for some time, I know that this is not his only sound. He does quieter, more contemplative tunes too.

For someone who doesn't know his previous work, does this second song give the impression that he's a One Trick Pony?


See the video on Youtube.


See the video on Youtube.