Mike Watt, “Contemplating the Engine Room,” Columbia * * 1/2

More streamlined than its star-studded predecessor, Watt’s second solo effort is a collection of spare, punked-out sea chanteys that serve as vehicles for the singer-bassist’s quirky ruminations. The dynamic among Watt, guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Steve Hodges is sharp and lively, with squalls of salty guitar crashing into fat, undulating rhythms. At times, however, stretches of abstract noodling cast the songs adrift. Watt plays the Garage in Silver Lake on Monday.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good), four stars (excellent).