B-Side Guys

The title comes with punctuation, which turns out to be accurate. Andrew Cahill, a singer-songwriter working in the tradition of The Lumineers and Caamp, doesn’t bury the feeling here. “FRANK.” is bright-guitar folk that sits easy on the ears while leaving something to chew on, political undertones surfacing just enough to give the warmth some weight without turning the whole thing into a statement.

What Cahill does well is make sincerity feel earned rather than assumed. The folk-Americana framework is well-worn territory, but the writing has enough specificity to keep it from going soft. The production stays out of its own way: the guitar stays bright and close, the arrangement doesn’t overcrowd, and the song ends before it overstays its welcome.

For an emerging artist still building his catalog, “FRANK.” suggests someone who knows exactly what he’s going for.