Joe Scarborough never hid the fact he was a music geek -- he'd tweet about the New Pornographers and praise Bono and R.E.M. in interviews -- but the existence of his 2017 Mystified EP is something of a surprise. Most political pundits supplement their main gig with quickie books or perhaps a radio show, something that complements their brand. Mystified does no such thing, refusing to even sound like the bluesy extravaganza its pastel-colored cover promises. It's an image suited to a John Mayer wannabe, not the power pop devotee Scarborough. Of course, he doesn't quite escape the trap endemic to middle-age rockers, dressing many of his five songs with an extraneous horn section that battles valiantly to turn nervy little numbers into blooze blowouts. The horns are one of a few bewildering choices on Mystified, choices suggesting that Scarborough wants to put every musical idea he's ever had into a 20-minute EP. He starts Mystified with bouncy dance-rock that suggests David Bowie filtered through the New Pornographers and closes with a big, swaying ballad that suggests U2 by way of the Waterboys. Scarborough often returns to hallmarks of '80s college rock, grounding a fair chunk of the EP on jangle pop and skinny-tie tunes, choosing to dress these hooks up with analog synths and blaring horns. These sensibilities don't necessarily mesh and that is part of the charm of Mystified: it's weird in a genuine way, trafficking in odd ideas that can only be conjured by a lifelong music nut working in an isolated hothouse. All this accessible oddness is intensified by Scarborough's tales of bad girls, hedge funds, drugs, and sex toys, a surprisingly risqué catalog of subjects that never feel designed for shock. Instead, Mystified winds up reflecting who Scarborough is: an A-list power player relishing his elite life while pining for the days when he could play music all night long. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

1		Mystified
2		Superbad
3		Time Rolls On
4		Girl Like That
5		Let's Fall in Love

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