*** Matthew Ryan, “East Autumn Grin,” A&M;.

Like English singer Beth Orton’s second album, Ryan’s sophomore effort showcases the character and craft that caught your ear in his debut work without convincing you that he has graduated from the “promising” status.

Ryan, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter whose sound leans more to folk-based rock than country, has shifted the focus of his songs from the youthful outcast tone of 1997’s “May Day” to a somewhat more mature examination of strained relationships.

But he doesn’t always dig as deep emotionally into his subject matter as you would like, leaving some of his songs a bit too anonymous. The exceptions, however, are formidable enough to make him worth monitoring.

In the best moments of “Autumn,” he moves all the way from the innocence and simplicity of “I Hear a Symphony,” a refusal to succumb to cynicism, to the mystery and complexity of “Ballad of a Limping Man,” which deals with regaining dignity and respect.

Best of all is “Worry,” a tender, uplifting song about trying to see clearly in even the darkest moments. Ryan will be at the Viper Room on Tuesday.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.