RECORD REVIEWS

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Album: “Hypnotic Eye” (Reprise)

Grade: A

Tom Petty isn’t singing about himself on his new tune, “Forgotten Man,” but he can’t be blamed for thinking like that.

The music world has moved on from the days when Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers were among its leaders. So what to do? They can give up, go country, become a walking jukebox or stand and fight.

They’ve decided to take a stand, based on the evidence of this stunning new disc. “Hypnotic Eye” is testament to the enduring power of blues-based rock ‘n’ roll. The Heartbreakers are among the best rock bands still working, and this disc is the type of showcase it hasn’t had for decades.

Mike Campbell’s fluid guitar, Benmont Tench’s unparalleled keyboards, Ron Blair’s surprisingly melodic bass and Steve Ferrone’s drums — it’s a veteran band that plays with confidence and precision. Petty brings the songs, hook-laden and filler-free, speaking to the strivers and dreamers who have always made up his audience. The sound is classic but never dated.

Were this the summer of 1984, “Faultlines,” “Red River,” “Forgotten Man” and “Sins of My Youth” would be constants on the radio. It’s no fault of his that time and trends are different now.

You’d be wise, however, not to forget Tom Petty.

—David Bauder, Associated Press

JENNY LEWIS

Album: “The Voyager” (Warner Bros.)

Grade: B

On her new album, Jenny Lewis is no longer the up-and-coming princess of indie-pop. Her band, Rilo Kiley, is over, and her use of spare, alt-folk arrangements to showcase her well-crafted stories is pretty much gone. With the help of producer Ryan Adams, Lewis has draped herself in the trappings of late-’70s Southern California rock, which doesn’t exactly help her cause. “You Can’t Outrun ’em” feels like a reworked “Gold Dust Woman,” while “Head Underwater” sounds like it came from Fleetwood Mac’s “Mirage” album. Her writing and voice are still good, but not good enough to displace the originals.

—Glenn Gamboa, Newsday