Kyle Forester has spent much of his career helping others sound good, from running a live band karaoke series to scoring independent films and doing time as a sideman for New York indie acts the Ladybug Transistor and Crystal Stilts. With his 2016 self-titled solo debut, the reluctant frontman shows that he's also been sitting on a batch of really good songs. Recorded both at home and at Gary Olson's Brooklyn hideaway Marlborough Farms, Forester's debut is a warmly crafted guitar pop gem with beguiling hooks and an unshowy appeal. Lead single and album opener "Won't Go Crazy" is a perfect indication of his capabilities as a writer and arranger, tucking intricate acoustic riffs, rich synths, and dynamic details into a very inviting, if slightly skewed, love song. Shades of Ken Stringfellow can be heard in Forester's pop acumen and versatility though, in spite of his apparent affection for classic power pop, his style feels a little more rooted in present-day indie ideology. He'll veer effortlessly from hooky jangle pop to textural synth instrumentals to lite-rock balladry within the space of just a few songs. The disc is crammed with standouts, but similar to the opening track, the dynamic bounce of "Make Up Their Minds" places Forester in what feels like his wheelhouse, delivering deceptively familiar melodies in a neatly stacked sandwich of pounding drums, piano, and dreamy synth leads. "Imitation of Love" is another late-album highlight with its sweet '60s pop harmonies and gentle union of electro and organic instrumentation. Throughout it all is Forester's easy relaxed tenor, confident but never forcing itself into place on this excellent debut.