Grass Punks

Though he’s called L.A. home for a decade, singer/songwriter Tom Brosseau retains the soft-spoken, slightly bemused air of a North Dakota expatriate wandering amid the hubbub of the big bad city. Grass Punks—his first solo studio offering in five years—finds the Grand Forks native contemplating the everyday mysteries of life with poignancy and wry humor. Little details count for a lot here—Brosseau’s unvarnished singing style makes each telling lyric observation stand out distinctly against his barebones acoustic guitar work. His command of imagery and narrative comes through as he laments a lover’s cellphone addiction (“Cradle Your Device”), recounts a home-repair incident (“Stuck on the Roof Again”), and paints an unfolding romantic scene (“Gregory Page of San Diego”). The tenderly nostalgic “Tami” and the wistfully hopeful “We Were Meant to Be Together” display his ability to craft love songs with a concise, finely wrought touch. Best of all is “Today Is a Bright New Day,” a folk-pop anthem that barely disguises its pervasive despair under a sunny coat of optimism.