John Popper clearly wanted to have a little fun on his solo debut, but he also wanted to get personal. From the Memphis blues groove and Beefheart growl of the opening "Miserable Bastard" to the countrified boogie of "Evil in My Chair" and the closing epic "Fledgling," Popper takes us beyond Blues Traveler's blues/pop hybrid and shows some swamp, some soul, and some vulnerability. Sure, there are staple barnburners here, but Zygote is sprinkled with slower, mostly accomplished and affecting ballads such as "Once You Wake Up," "Home," and the folky, romantic "Love for Free." A couple of other slower ones ("How About Now" and the plodding "Lunatic") don't work quite as well, but Popper's charisma and charm enhance his soft side, and the guitar work of Crugie Riccio, soaring at times into Gilmour and Garcia territory, elevates even these numbers. --John Sutton-Smith
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