Sometimes you just need something slow and mellow to set the mood - even if it is just to set the mood for yourself. Kris Racer's new album Has a Banner Year has that ability. Providing the perfect soundtrack to relax to, the album is a solid attempt at making Indie acoustic rock sound timeless.

Basically an acoustic version of Saves the Day with a bit of Death Cab for Cutie influence, Kris Racer's music is a collection of soft sounding ballads that flow into one another. Though the album spans only six songs long, the music is perfect background music due to its ability to sink in the back of your consciousness. "This is your Emergency" rocks a little harder than the rest, but Racer's slightly nasal, yet soothing voice creates the melody that overpowers the harder power chords. There is nothing more that channels Saves the Day than "Balance," a romantic tune that speaks of the desperate feelings of unrequited love. However, the music does not really have a lasting effect - one the song is done, it's easy to forget the tune until you listen to the song again and remember how good it was.

Kris Racer is not reinventing the wheel with this music, but the album is a good source of music in a music world that often does not provide anything fresh and new. While the music might not be revolutionary or inspire anyone to new heights in music, Has a Banner Year reminds us that sometimes the tried and true formulas are quite all right in the end.