Skywatching

Droge: Tim Jackson/WireImage.com

His shaky vocals and laconic way with lyrics are uncannily like Tom Petty’s. Yet Droge’s melodies and observations are all his own. On his fourth solo album, Skywatching, the Seattle-based alt-rocker goes for his most scaled-down and homey sound to date. He still writes the sweet pop tunes that gave him his cult hit — 1994’s ”If You Don’t Love Me (I’ll Kill Myself).” But now everything seems closer and, as a result, has more consequence.