On its second full-length CD, Forty Watt Bulb mixes heartfelt love songs and heady philosophical tunes, and many of these dozen tracks pack a sly punch that rewards repeated listens.

In the past, the Silver Creek folk outfit - a regular in the rotation at Brainerd's Eclectic Cafe - seemed to specialize in pleasant background music, but this album should change that perception.

The band is led by the nicely weathered voice of Andrew Peterson, who wrote all 11 originals on "Snivel" (the 12th track is a just-for-fun, lightning-fast version of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire"). The picking on the bluegrass tunes can lull a listener into a "heard-it-before" stupor.

"Shovel's Length Short" (2004) could blend into the coffeehouse scenery. By comparison, the sounds - especially the lyrics - of "Snivel" jump out of your earphones.

Artist: Forty Watt Bulb
Album: "Snivel"
Genre: Folk/bluegrass
Label: Spigot Records
Highs: This is an unpretentious portrait of the band, complete with heartfelt love songs and thoughtful tracks about how to live life.
Lows: Parts of the disc blend into the scenery. "Summertime," the band's ode to a lazy day, is forgotten as soon as it's gone.
Grade: B+