Michael Franti & Spearhead is best known for its frontman’s vocal politics. On The Sound of Sunshine —Spearhead’s seventh studio album—Franti continues to preach, spreading a message of positive change through his music. Issues of world peace and social justice aren’t as prominent on this album as on previous ones, but the aim remains essentially the same.

The band’s songs have always been difficult to classify. There are obvious reggae and hip-hop elements, especially in Franti’s vocal style, but the band borrows from funk, jazz, and folk as well, though reggae-folk is the most prevalent. Many of the songs are about love and focus on the need for caring in our personal relationships.

The songwriting is always upbeat and occasionally poignant. “Gloria,” featuring regular collaborator Cherine Anderson, is an uplifting and emotional track that is one of Spearhead’s best efforts. The first couple of songs on the album are some of the strongest: the title track “Sound of Sunshine” is an airy, light-hearted reflection, while “Shake It” is an exuberant exhortation to get up and dance. The Sound of Sunshine ends with a gospel-y number, “The Sound of Sunshine Going Down,” echoing the melancholic end of a day. The album is slow, but it evokes positivity with its lyrics and music.