Ernie Halter named his latest album, Franklin & Vermont, after two streets in Los Angeles which he calls home, or at least the closest thing to it for him nowadays. The album is his first self-produced effort, although he enlisted the help of MixOne engineers Spenser Bishop and Carson Liccardi.

While a live performance of the heartbreaker “Gone” got the most hits on YouTube, there are many sweeter moments on this album. The ukulele-flavored “Come Home To Me” has a whimsical, minimal vibe reminiscent of Halter’s early work (which was recorded in his bathroom) and of fellow crooner, the late Elliott Smith. However, Halter’s lyrics are far more hopeful; they have an optimistic quality to them that a lot of Love Songs Unplugged seem to lack.

Musically, it’s a bold move to strip things down so much; however, it’s an approach which allows for the strings, ukulele, and guitar to really shine through, many of which were played by Halter himself. The vocals are soulful and rich, which is a nice change from the thin, nasally indie pop that’s out there now. “We Got Love,” “Yes I Am,” and “Hard To Let A Good One Go” are definite gems, being the most substantial tracks musically, with poppy drums and a more upbeat tempo. “Meant To Be” edges on lo-fi grit with surprisingly dirty electronic drums and organ riffs which echo Curtis Mayfield and other soul/R&B artists.

It goes without saying that Ernie Halter has grown from his home-recorded first album, Lo-Fidelity, to this one. For a self-produced release, it illustrates his talents as a songwriter and as a musician. The degree of diversity in musical stylings is both intriguing and refreshing, and the throwback to 70′s soul gives it an unforgettable groove.