Thurs, Dec 2, Fences

Chris Mansfield—a.k.a. Fences—graduated from the Berklee College of Music, but even with such a prestigious background, the Seattle-based singer-songwriter keeps his music simple. His self-titled debut, produced by Sara Quin, is a quiet, stirring collection of ballads and pop reflections that are equal parts Death Cab for Cutie, Elliott Smith and Dashboard Confessional—ruminative, longing and thankfully just a few guitar strums shy of twee preciousness. Mansfield has joked that he “traffics in wussy pop music” but songs such as the wry “The Same Tattoos” and “My Girl the Horse” are odes to decaying love that aren’t for the weak of heart. 1050 20th Street, www.myspace.com/fencesvswolf.