Since its inception back in 2002, Jack Johnson‘s Brushfire Records has steadily grown into a go-to imprint for modern singer-songwriter fare and relaxed alt pop. On top of Johnson’s own output (including the mega-successful albums In Between Dreams and 2013’s From Here to Now to You), the Hawaii-based label has been responsible for releasing key titles from the likes of Mason Jennings, Animal Liberation Orchestra, Matt Costa, Rogue Wave, Neil Halstead, Money Mark and Malaysian-born ukulele player Zee Avi. Also in the Brushfire stable are those wily veterans G. Love & Special Sauce. Though the duo has been on hiatus for the last few years (G. Love chose to fly solo for 2011’s Fixin’ to Die), they’re now back with Sugar, a funky, bluesy and all too shambolic affair that recalls the string of popular albums they released on Okeh in the mid-’90s, namely G. Love and Special Sauce, Coast to Coast Motel and Yeah, It’s That Easy. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newbie craving new some tunage, our label spotlight is the perfect way to soak up Brushfire’s breezy sounds. — Justin Farrar