"It's said that the best songwriters capture the human spirit in a way that's unique yet universal, without resorting to clichés or pretentious gestures. That certainly goes for Casey Reid, whose patchwork blues and junkyard folk tunes hit the musical sweet spot. A wizened old soul fond of Beck and Tom Waits, Reid released his debut, Cephalclog, this year. It's an album whose impact is felt via the heart, not the head. Ghostly vocals, barnstorming guitar and a vast array of orchestral touches—among them, brittle cello and found-sound