One of life’s simple pleasures is the ability to watch things grow. Sacramento music fans have enjoyed seeing several of the town’s natives sons (and daughters) develop out of local clubs to a national stage in the last few years. As satisfying as the success of a few Sacramento bands like Cake and Deftones has been, however, there have also been the demoralizing failures of dozens more (Deathray and Far, most notably).

Jackpot is the latest Sacramento buzz-band to step into the spotlight, and from the sound of their latest CD, Shiny Things, they don’t seem to be too terribly intimidated–or impressed–by the attention. As a band best known for recollections of daydreams and sippin’ whiskey, one could be forgiven for imagining the quartet kicking back on a porch swing somewhere while the national media dissect their tunes. Even if Shiny Things doesn’t change longtime listeners’ perception of Jackpot as purveyors of laid-back rock, its spotty ambition may signal to newcomers that even a roots band can take itself a little too seriously.

Singer/songwriter Rusty Miller is at once arresting and genuine in the album’s opener “Far Far Far,” adapting a style more reminiscent of late-era American Music Club than commonly attributed influences Wilco or Paul Westerberg. Miller’s imagery slinks into a quietly memorable melody that seems to walk blindfolded across each verse. The listener is carried through Miller’s vision and laid down after hearing not just a song, but a story.

Whatever promise Jackpot makes with “Far Far Far” is slowly eroded in the tracks that follow. Even Miller’s occasional eloquence in songs like “Big House” and “Hide In The Frequency” (“X-Ray vision to see inbetween / Where’s my kimono and my time machine?”) cannot counteract the hit-and-miss imbalance of goofy electronic noise and rock ‘n’ roll. While Jackpot’s effort to swing the gate between genres is probably an honest effort at meandering, atmospheric rock a la Grandaddy or Wilco, the band tends to utilize the technique at all the wrong times. For every “Throw Away Your Misery” that revels in its tasteful mix of keyboards and vocal samples, there are two or three songs (“Hide In The Frequency” being the most notable offender) that seem to ache for a straightforward guitar/bass/drums arrangement.

None of the band members make any glaring musical missteps, although when Jackpot finally does refine itself to the stark acoustic guitar of “When You Leave,” the mood shifts dramatically and Miller doesn’t have the lyrical or vocal chops to pull it off. By the time Jackpot winds up the album with the piano-yawner “Bring On The Chimes,” Miller’s distinctive voice sounds a little too familiar, and the listener is left wanting something that matches the warmth of the instrumental track.

Shiny Things is an easy album to listen to, but seems nearly impossible to understand. Jackpot wouldn’t have emerged from Sacramento without that cozy style that endeared them to listeners near and far. Nevertheless, their latest album plays like an effort to qualify that style rather than reinforce it, leading to clutter and a few moments of embarrassing pretentiousness. If Shiny Things is how Jackpot wants to grow on the national stage that has claimed them, then they should continue to be quite a simple pleasure, indeed.