graduated from college with a philosophy degree -- a usual surefire sign that his music would come loaded with cerebral sentiment. Anyone who has listened to their share of 's labelmate, , knows that dimestore philosophy can be a stumbling block, with self-important lyrics often getting in the way of well-executed sounds and ideas. But surprises by balancing lofty thoughts with an accomplished production that heightens the tongue twisters this artist is so fond of, while camouflaging the heady themes that run through several of his songs. Case in point: the stellar dances around sympathy for abused women, but the retro-drum track and rollicking, downtown guitar, paired with 's bubbly delivery, makes sure it steers far clear of preachy territory. Elsewhere, lets the songs play out for themselves, letting sublimely bare arrangements and his often "lovable nerd" voice speak for themselves. On he sounds like a jubilantly caffeinated ; with he sings about progressing in a relationship with the aggressiveness of 's punches while a muffled percussion loop keeps the mood fittingly smoky around him. This debut proves that 's sense of humor and his welcome embrace of pop culture could turn him into a worthy rival of , albeit thankfully without her weighty dose of pathos. ~ Jason Kaufman