Modest indie rock project Parent Teacher released the bruised single “Homesick” last week. Its melancholy opening—fresh strings chiming through the song’s chords on an acoustic—is followed by tinny drums and a bass that’s a little louder and grittier than you’d expect. With the school bell having rung, out comes the resigned but pure and melodically simple vocal: “I lied instead of being direct, my feels protected the disconnect.”

The sound mix is a little rough, and I resisted at first. But after listening again and trying the two other songs released this year, the music grew on me.

Parent Teacher reminds me of Grandaddy, Ben Gibbard, and 22º Halo. This artist has a knack for melody and songwriting. Sound engineering and all that stuff can be fixed, but without the melody and songwriting, you have nothing.

“Homesick” is posted below, but I recommend trying “Capital Artist” and "Fire Door," too. They aren’t all sad-guy songs. And—confession time—I like the raw, stripped-down clips of these songs (“Fire Door,” especially) posted on his Instagram more than the released versions.