As the title of the New York rocker’s Atlantic debut provocatively suggests, Star’s whole life has been building to this point. The songs on “11:59” play out in real time, the stories spin out in narratives that resonate with urgency and truth. Star’s often stripped-bare vocals give the songs an added resonance.

“There have been a million hopes and let downs to get here,” Star says. ”I don’t think you really choose the time as an artist, I think the time chooses you. This album is who I am.” And now that he’s here,... more