Former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon is on his own and has found happiness ... in magazines, that is.

The artist left the long-time Brit-band favourite in 2002 and recently released his fifth solo album, Happiness in Magazines -- a sometimes perfectly-pop, but varied, collection of songs that displays Coxon's talent and musical ambitions.

"Spectacular" kick starts the album with a fresh pop-rock tune that keeps things simple right from the start and is reminiscent of the duo The White Stripes.

The fun, garage-rock sound is kept on track two, "No Good Time," where lyrics flow flawlessly and a good old-fashioned guitar solo backed with a rock beat kept by the tambourine add to the sound Coxon seems to be going for.

Track three, "Girl Done Gone," is a change-up that threw me at first -- but it works. Coxon slips into a rugged blues tone that plods along and then slips into a heavier rock sound towards the end proving that he is willing to experiment and change things up.

But immediately after the downer, Coxon gives you the most pop-perfect, and possibly the most radio-ready song on this album, "Bittersweet Bundle of Misery."

This song sounds a bit like The Monkees could be performing it, and I love it. With lyrics like, "I like the way we fight right through the night/And the way you used to kiss was way out of sight," how could you not smile while listening to this song.

The only thing missing is the intermittent double clap.

Other good surprises on this album include the sweet-listenin' ballad, "All Over Me," and Green Day-like rock number, "Freakin' Out".

Although some of the tracks on Happiness may seem out of place, overall Coxon creates a record of perfect simplicity with catchy tunes and lyrics that almost always rhyme. I dare you not to sing along.

-- Reviewed by Sarah Nolan