‘Only Fools Love Again’  by multi-instrumentalist Danny Ayala is a throwback to an era of music when songs, not production tricks, ruled the music industry.

Ayala teamed primarily with producer/guitarist Fernando Perdomo to deliver 10 pop-rock songs that evoke the classic singer-songwriter era.

“I Was Wrong” kicks things off in fine fashion. Ayala’s voice is eager with a wide emotional range. The song, like all except for “ I Wanna Come Back To You,” was written solely by Ayala, and it has a Beach Boys/Around The World In A Day-Prince vibe. Ayala handles vintage-sounding organ and piano, accompanied by Perdomo and Michael D’Addario on guitars and Reza Matin on drums.

“I Don’t Like Her” smiles musically despite the cleverly dark lyrics. The tale of a lover missing a soul mate is as old as time, but the musical and lyrical combination in this song, which The Lemon Twigs produced, will have you tapping your foot while shaking your head. 

“Pluto” turns up the Heat. This rocker, featuring Perdomo on slashing electric guitars, Reza Martin on drums, and Ayala on everything else, is good, clean rock-and-roll fun. Ayala, stepping into the role of the former planet, Pluto, makes you feel its frustration at being rejected.

What more could you want from good modern pop-rock, besides good songs, good playing, and good production? ‘Only Fools Love Again’ delivers on all counts.