If David Grossman could sing an octave or two lower, he would have Paul Simon down to a tee. Some artists, those without songs or a voice, could build a career on that kind of accident. But for someone with talent like Grossman, it's an unfortunate coincidence he'll spend his career trying to explain away.

But if Words & Miles is any indication of what he can do, Grossman may have the skills to outrun his Paul Simon doppelganger.

As a songwriter, Grossman tends toward the quiet, introspective side of the emotional universe. Happiness is the general mood here. Deep in thought is about as close as he comes to darkness. Grossman is also the kind of singer-songwriter who paints detailed miniatures about life and love. Happy originals like "~Kaleidoscope Girl," "Smiles in the Morning" and "Junkyard" set up Grossman's way with up, up and away folk ditties. The songs don't have enough edges or ambition to fit in with the Colvin-Gorka-Wilcox neofolk axis. But that doesn't take away from the fact that there are lots of pleasing moments on this CD.