Abstaining from his former band The Moldy Peaches’ proclivity for cheesy love songs (think Juno’s “Anyone Else But You”), Toby Goodshank‘s most recent release, Truth Jump, is a deeply emotional whirlwind of a record. It clocks in at only a little over 20 minutes but essentially spans the breadth of human emotion, and it’s nicely partnered with instrumental surprises that add even more to the already compelling collection of songs.

At first listen, Goodshank’s rough voice and the instrumentation may seem like typical acoustic fare. He assuages these fears, though, by letting the record grow into the intricate melodies of “The 3 is Silent” and the subtle keys that pop up from time to time as the lyrical story unfolds. Additionally, the seemingly uncontrollable jumps from lower to higher vocal registers and back is admittedly an acquired taste, but it’s one worth the time spent developing. The reward comes in moments such as the subtle quiver on the chorus line of “Baby I Feel Like I Just Got Cut in Half” and the almost confessional tone of songs like “Sarah & Jon”. These eight tracks – only two of which are longer than three minutes – each offer a terse, powerful story. While not downright depressing, ruminations on death and lost opportunity certainly aren’t afternoon-driving fare.

Truth Jump ends with “My Reflection”, an appropriately titled glimpse of sunshine featuring a jangly guitar melody and lushly layered vocal harmonies. The bright acoustic demeanor gives the dark repetition of “you mean to do me harm” a hint of optimism, that Goodshank will be okay, eventually, as will everybody else. While this may seem out of place amidst both the current social crises and the downtempo feel of the rest of the record, it’s a greatly welcomed thought, and hopefully a prophetic one, too.

Essential Tracks: “My Reflection”, “Wedding Bells”