Bhiman

By turns soulful, absurdist, and politically charged, Bhi Bhiman—a first-generation American of Sri Lankan ancestry—works in the scrappy folk troubadour tradition of Woody Guthrie and displays a caustic wit worthy of Randy Newman and John Prine. His voice is filled with aching resonance, wailing with wounded pride in the hobo’s anthem “Guttersnipe” and taking on Marvin Gaye–like tones in the jealousy-wracked “Eye on You.” Propelled by his deft acoustic guitar work, Bhiman can embody both a hard-pressed North Korean worker (“Kimchee Line”) and a greedy corporate fat cat (“The Cookbook”) with equal confidence. Skewed country tunes like “Crime of Passion” and “Ballerina” take his penchant for zaniness to lurid heights. Even when shifting to a mellower mood (as on “Take What I’m Given”), he retains his sharp sense of social commentary. Judicious use of keyboards, vibraphone, and light percussion rounds out the album's spare sound. It's smart, timely, and deeply humane.