Spun: Jim Bryson

By Jordyn Marcellus

Energetic folk-pop is hard to find, as most of it tends to be of the Conor Oberst caterwauling variety. Thankfully, Jim Bryson’s adorably-titled album Where the Bungalows Roam is the perfect mix of acoustic folk and low-key indie pop for the scenester set, without all the ugly histrionics that tend to irritate the senses.

Bryson’s voice is pitch perfect, with mellow and relaxed melodies reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens. There are two distinct types of songs on the album, though, and it doesn’t feel as cohesive as other albums of either genre. Some, like “Flower” and “Death by Vibration,” are pure folk, with barebones acoustic guitar and a little piano. On the other hand, Bryson proves he has a sharp mind to create brilliant pop songs, like “The Wishes Pile Up.”

This kind of divide in the album can be forgiven though, because each song is gorgeous. There’s not a drop of filler. Every song can be listened to on repeat for hours. Few albums can actually claim such a feat, and Jim Bryson pulls it off with ease.