Van Hunt has been away for a long time. Since 2006's On The Jungle Floor, Hunt was been in release limbo with Blue Note Records which came to a end in 2007 when Blue Note announced Hunt's third album Popular would not be released. However, that limbo period may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise... or a complete disaster. Undoubtedly, Hunt's established fan base will be the judge. Either way, Hunt will achieve what he wants - disruption. On his latest, What Were You Hoping For?, released on independently on his own godless-hotspot, Hunt takes listeners on an eclectic musical journey that compromises his musical influences presented in interesting and disjointed ways. What Were You Hoping For? does not fit into one genre as defined by mainstream music; Hunt's foundations in funk and R&B transition into an amalgamation of rock, pop, soul, and punk on the album. The album opens with "North Hollywood", a driving bass and guitar romp about the neighborhood that helped to inspire Hunt's latest musical opus. Hunt's songwriting approaches the concepts of love, religion, sex, and longing to wittingly and with clever metaphor (listen to "Cross Dresser" where Hunt recounts dressing in an ex's forgotten clothing to feel closer to her). "Eyes Like Pearls", the album's lead single, has pop appeal as a melodic rock love song. The retro, country feel of "Falls (Violet)" and sensual "Moving Targets" will sound familiar for Hunt fans and both showcase Hunt's inescapable ability to sing haunting lyrics through his confident voice. Listeners will recognize the Curtis Mayfield, Lenny Kravitz, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince in Hunt's sound but Hunt places those influences over different instrumentations that make them unique and refreshing. What Were You Hoping For? is daring and different. After all this time, anything less would have been unexpected and with an open mind, this album may be just what you were hoping for from Hunt.