It’s key that Jay Brannan’s voice can smooth over rough edges, for his lyrics are about as upfront and unflinching as a songwriter can get without completely breaking down. This ultra-personal approach made Brannan an immediate hit on the Internet, where many people discovered his talents on YouTube. He’s been compared to Liz Phair for his graphic love (well, sex) songs and to Ani DiFranco for his indie-acoustic sound. His third full-length album, 2014’s Always, Then & Now, is self-released and self-produced with help from Brannan’s collaborator Drew Body. Songs such as “My Last Day on Earth” and “Blue-Haired Lady,” where an older woman confronts dying alone, illustrate Brannan’s empathy and his nuanced view on life and death. The world inspires him and sometimes brings him down, as the excellent “Square One” reveals. The brutally frank “Uncle Auntie-Socialite” further explores Brannan’s forthright worldview.