Adams, Velan show different points on singer-songwriter spectrum

It’s funny; the term “singer-songwriter” is casually tossed around to indicate a certain sound, as if a guy singing his own songs sounds just like another doing the same thing. I’ve been guilty as much as anyone, falling back on the shorthand when searching for a way to describe something. Thing is, most people probably conjure something specific when they hear the term, something quiet, introspective. Maybe just a singer and a sensitively plucked acoustic guitar.

That serves as the base for one of two artists with new albums out now. Peter Bradley Adams is a quiet, introspective performer. His songs are sweet — sometimes falling toward the bitter end of that sweetness scale — and rarely rise above a polite decibel level. The other artist, Chris Velan, is positively raucous in comparison. Of course, that means he’s not terrible raucous at all, but his album is a spirited affair, a jaunty collection of songs that shake, shimmy and occasionally swagger.

So, why write about both of these guys at the same time? They have the same publicist who sent their albums for review at roughly the same time, and they were released around the same time. But the real reason is to point out the limitations of the “singer-songwriter” tag. These two would fit comfortably together on a bill, but no one would suggest that they sound alike.

Adams has the higher profile of the two, having been part of the acclaimed duo Eastmountainsouth. His new album, Between Us, is his fourth under his own name, and it ranks among his best. Adams moved from Nashville to New York between his last release and this one, and whilie there is nothing harried or urban about it, you can hear a change in songs. I might be reading into this, but there seems to be a longing here, a sense of loneliness that can only be experienced by someone isolated in a sea of people.

That solitude is conveyed in understated, gorgeous fashion. Adams is often joined by female vocalists here, including his former Eastmountainsouth mate Kate Maslich-Bode and Crooked Still’s Aoife O’Donovan. The only drawback is that there is a sameness in tone here. It would be nice to hear Adams tackle something with a backbeat, but he does what he does very well, so it’s understandable that he would want to stick with that.

Velan, in comparison, mixes things up. His fourth album, Fables for Fighters, is a spirited affair. The disc opens with the bouncy “Any Number of Ways,” a tune built on ukelele and handclaps.  That segues into “Oceans Ago,” a tune with the kind of beat I’d like to see Adams attempt. Nothing radical, but one that’ll have your head shaking while you hum along with Velan’s infectious melody.

Attempting to put my finger on the added ingredient in Velan’s sound, I hit upon it when reading a glowing review of his work on Jambase. While there is no aimless noodling here, I can see how Velan’s music would be embraced by jamband fans. His tunes are light and fun and are probably a blast to hear live. Listening, I’m put in the mind of a less-polished Guster fronted by Gary Jules.

Both artists seem to be hitting their stride on these fourth outings. they are very different — Velan offers a Saturday night record, while Adams’ soundtracks the following Sunday morning. Whatever you choose to call them, these two singers of their own songs are worth watching.