Invisible Pictures

Since beginning his solo career in 2019, Nashville's has proven not only to be a quick worker, but a remarkably consistent songwriter. On , his third record in a four-year span, continues to push his songs into sometimes surprising new directions while retaining the low-key charm that keeps his music approachable. Far and away his most elaborately arranged set to date, traffics in swirls of ornate strings, punchy rhythms, and subtle nods to pop forebears ranging from to . After two records in direct collaboration with his wife, acclaimed country star , ceded production duties to ( ), who took him out of his comfort zone by surrounding him with a less-familiar crew. The resulting album sees him moving even further away from his rootsier tendencies and embracing a more varied indie rock approach. Tracks like "Keep Me High" and "Downhill" recall some of the scrappy guitar pop of and , though their ambitious string sections add a touch of old-school psychedelia to the mix. The songs themselves are more inward gazing than on 2020's politically charged , and seem well-suited to 's limited, though affable voice. He tends to shine on the quirkier midtempo cuts like "Phantom Limb" or "Empty Game," which serve both his vintage pop sensibilities and chops. Not unlike the late , there's some of the cult classic singer/songwriter in 's overall vibe, which seems built for a smaller but deeply devoted arena. ~ Timothy Monger