It’s good to be Jack Johnson’s friend. Donavon Frankenreiter, G. Love and Ben Harper – they’ve all experienced success directly related to Johnson. For ALO, whose members lived in the same building as Johnson during their days at the University of California Santa Barbara, it’s no different. Roses & Clover, the band’s second release on Johnson’s Brushfire Records imprint, is a solid effort from the West Coast jam rock veterans.

ALO’s music doesn’t fit nicely into any one category. The group’s live shows invite jam-band labeling, but its studio work fits more alongside artists such as Johnson and Dave Matthews Band. As a result, ALO straddles the lines among roots-rock, funk, psychedelic and pop influences and creates a fun, uplifting and dance-able sound.

In 2005, the band opened for Johnson on his world tour, with keyboardist Zach Gill sitting in on keyboards in Johnson’s band during the shows. Gill also guested on Johnson’s album In Between Dreams.

Gill (vocals, keyboards, ukulele) is the unofficial leader of the band, handling most of the vocal work and guiding many of the band’s songs, including album opener “Maria.” Gill’s song writing is both soulful and pop-conscious; “Maria,” which would fit nicely in the band’s catalogue, exemplifies Gill’s vocal talents.

Drummer David Brogan contributes his vocal work to the album as well, using his much softer voice to lead “Empty Vessel,” a song about escaping an unfairly balanced relationship. Bassist Steve Adams contributes subtle and smooth basslines to for songs such as “Shine” and “Lady Loop.”

What sets ALO apart from its other jam band peers is guitarist Dan Lebowitz, who isn’t like other traditional rock guitarists. Aside from the occasional lap steel and electric guitar, Lebowitz almost exclusively plays acoustic-electric guitar, creating soaring, melodic electric-sounding lead parts (see “Empty Vessel” and the title track) that would impress even ex-Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio. At the same time, his rhythm work sounds like a natural acoustic guitar. Lebowitz is also capable of mixing the two, like on the reggae sing-along “Try.”

Roses & Clover is the first album ALO recorded specifically for Brushfire; Fly Between Falls was originally released independently in late 2004, then re-worked, remixed and re-released for Brushfire in 2006. This album is also the first time the band went into the studio to write and record before playing songs live – a decision that actually hurts some of the album’s material.

Where Fly Between Falls was culled from throughout ALO’s 15-plus-year career, Roses & Clover is mostly new material and features some songs that don’t stand up to the standard set by Fly Between Falls. “Monday” is a predictable – both lyrically and musically – pop-rock track, and along with “Shine” and “All Alone,” is one of the album’s disposable songs.

Overall, Roses & Clover is a safe record for ALO. However, while the band may never grow to be as popular as Johnson, ALO has enough talent, sensibility and catchy songs to make Roses & Clover a success.

Contact reporter Rudi Greenberg at rudi.greenberg@gmail.com.