When We Were Small

What's the world coming to? First the indie-rockers at Matador Records start hawking electronica; now the grunge farmers at Sub Pop are issuing folk records. No complaints, though, when they're this appealing. Thomas is a moonlighting comic with an earth-angel voice who channels fragile melismas through heartachy tales sketched with acoustic guitars and pianos. Sometimes poignant, always pretty, the songs show little evidence of her day job. But as tears of a clown go, it's moving stuff.