"26 with a twist and a face like a child," says Grieves on "No Matter What." He sings and rhymes as if he's reciting poetry, but don't dismiss him as just another Rhymesayers emo rapper. Grieves has a disarming honesty about his problems, whether it's becoming a man, dabbling in substances or falling in and out of love, and he's a sympathetic narrator on Together/Apart. His charisma shines even though producer Budo makes some pedestrian beats; the ballad "Against the Bottom" sounds like a Jason Mraz outtake. It's just as well; at heart, Grieves is a romantic.