The "7" title refers to the seventh CD by PDP, which left the Islands in 1986 and now has 20-plus years of prolific energy and creativity. Its release date is April 1, so watch for it.

Maybe you have to go away to find your mettle; Orrall is the principal composer here (with a couple of collaborations) and there's resourceful sentiments galore. Like "Rusted Weather," a love song pulling in elements of sunshine and rainfall — what splendid results.

Or the sweet metaphor of "Candy," a joyous rock tune that would be suited for coy Mick Jagger-like strutting and prancing. Or the intimacy about relationships on "From This Moment On," a comforting makeup ditty if there ever was one.

Further, there's ethereal, brooding images on "Space Dust," a galaxy of relaxing slo-mo sentiments like a space walk without gravitational pull. In short: a world of inviting sounds, from an act that has been on a roll.

For this session, PDP musicians include Orrall, Susan Voelz, Dave Max Crawford, Dag Juhlin, Kornell Hargrove, Ron Hall, Ted Cho, Charlette Wortham, Rick Gehrenbeck, Dan Leali, John Nelson and guest singer Abra Moore. No wonder the sounds are substantial and savory.

You might say that the 12 tunes — all originals — dwell in the alt-rock, pop-rock and punk-rock groove, targeting young audiences at local clubs. The CD cover art is inventive (three hip cartoon cats, jamming atop a garbage bin in an alley, with an audience of rats) and suggests that these dudes are ready for their closeup.

"One & Only" and "Don't Run" have melodic hooks, natural for the dance floor, and sing- and clap-along; "When I Wake Up" is a four-alarm fire of punch and stamina; all tunes are composed by band member Marcus.

For more on the band: www.myspace.com/busekrustheband.

From the opening "Darling Angel" track to the closing "Steady Root Rockin'," the Souljahz have party-hearty tunes to keep the toes tapping and the heart pumping. "Endlessly" has that requisite rap, along with a bouncy melody; "Irie Beach Party" is jammed with reggae riffs and grooves.

But "I'm Not the Man for You" is an outside-the-box pop ballad without the reggae rhythms that shows depth and dimension and Maglinti's powerhouse pipes — and a precise piano accompaniment, graced with harmonics. Similarly, "Nothing to Hide" is rockaballad high with a soulful and bluesy flavor — though there's midpoint rap.