By John Kenyon
The Gazette
Friday, November 08, 2002, 8:44:44 AM

IOWA CITY -- Tom Jessen always seemed to strain at the leash of alt-country music.
The Iowa City singer-songwriter's first solo disc, 1996's "Redemption," was a case study in subtle exploration, his solid, roots rock augmented here and there by touches that hinted at ambitions beyond the genre.

With "Night," he strains so hard at that leash that it snaps in two. The shredded strands hang from his collar as he runs yipping down the street.

You'd be hard pressed to pick out country as an influence beyond the twang in Jessen's vocals on "Night," a disc that almost completely sheds that past sound for a full embrace of classic soulful pop. A track like "Go Easy on My Eyes" would have fit that earlier disc, but it's one of few.

Where "Redemption" sounded like someone clearly in debt to the likes of Uncle Tupelo and Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Night" bears the imprint of Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson and any number of '60s soul singers.

Jessen's songs are thick with horn sections, strings and backing vocals. Those elements create a lush backing for his densely packed lyrics that chronicle quests of spiritual and romantic satisfaction.

If nothing else, Jessen should be lauded for his ambition. His grasp doesn't always meet his reach -- if it did this would be a blindingly stunning album -- but he gets there often enough to make this an awfully satisfying listen.

At times all the touches -- horns, strings, a swell of backing vocals -- seem like the bells and whistles on a tricked-out sports car: Sure, they're cool, but do they make the thing go any faster? But much of the time they work, giving these songs a masterly feel.

The only shortcomings crop up when the song at the core of these constructions, the nuts-and-bolts melody and words, doesn't offer a sturdy enough framework to support it all. But it doesn't happen often here.

Everything comes together on "All Those Treasure Daggers," a fantastic song that blends new-wave angst and horn-fueled soul in one sunny blast of verve and vigor.

While that is the most catchy track here, it is only one of several songs that reward repeat listens. With "Night," Jessen has crafted a mature artist statement that is not only his best album, but among the best by a musician in a town full of talented peers.