David Wilcox Expands His Horizons : Pop music: The singer-songwriter explores the rewards of emotional intimacy with a mellow sound. But his desire to be meaningful never gets in the way of a good song.

David Wilcox seems remarkably happy and well-adjusted for a singer-songwriter who plays deeply personal pop-tinged folk music. While many modern songwriters deliver anger and alienation wrapped in stark, minimalist arrangements, Wilcox’s new album, “Big Horizon,” explores the rewards of emotional intimacy with a warm, mellow sound somewhat reminiscent of James Taylor’s.

On previous albums, Wilcox, who will play today and Saturday at the Troubadour, examined such darker issues as his fear of commitment, but his recent marriage and the birth of his son seem to have changed his perspective.

During “New World,” the first single from “Big Horizon,” Wilcox sings, “The ocean of my loneliness / Has carried me to land.” This line and the lyrics to such songs as “Block Dog” and “Show the Way” seem to mark the 36-year-old singer’s path from Angst -filled seeker to happy family man.

“I think that it’s time for the harvest,” Wilcox says in a soft, relaxed voice during an interview in an A&M; conference room. “I had my records of delving into the depths of this and that. I think it’s great to offer up solutions as well as questions. I think I’ve had the time to come to some peace, to come to some vision of what my life means.”

Though much of “Big Horizon” concerns Wilcox’s successful search for contentment, it’s hardly a simplistic “feel-good” album. “That’s What the Lonely Is For” is about the singer’s past feelings of emptiness, and Wilcox examines dark temptations on “Please Don’t Call” and “Strong Chemistry.”

Joseph Michelli, host of the nationally syndicated radio psychology show “Wishing You Well,” thought highly of Wilcox’s willingness to explore his emotions, and the singer appeared on his show to discuss some of his songs.

“He thinks (my music) is really steering people straight,” Wilcox says. “I think he was saying that I don’t tend to distort things emotionally. I will give the complexity of the emotion instead of just trying to make a simple ‘I love you’ sort of song.”

Wilcox never lets this psychological validation or his desire to be meaningful get in the way of a good song though, and “Big Horizon” is as full of insightful lyrics as it is well-crafted pop. His music can be complex, using alternate tunings and jazzy inflections, but it’s also catchy and inviting, even on “Strong Chemistry,” which compares an obsessive love affair to an addictive drug. “The lyrics are tough, but the guitar sound sort of gives me permission to say what I need to say,” Wilcox says.

He developed that guitar sound at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, teaching himself to play Joni Mitchell songs before learning simpler folk songs. After traveling, working a series of jobs and going back to school, he settled in Asheville, N.C., where he performed in bars and clubs, playing a wider area as he “got more and more reliable vehicles.”

Wilcox released his first album on an independent label and was signed to A&M; after a talent scout saw him at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. His first A&M; album, 1989’s “How Did You Find Me Here,” went on to sell more than 100,000 copies.

“Big Horizon,” Wilcox’s third album for the company, was released in early February and is already approaching the 100,000 mark, according to A&M.; “New World” scored big on adult alternative radio, and A&M; recently released a second single from the album, Wilcox’s contemplative cover of the Four Tops’ “It’s the Same Old Song.”

None of this seems to have fazed Wilcox, who still lives in Asheville, mountain biking and spending time with his family when he’s not on tour. “I’m trying to stay sane, stay focused, stay humble and stay enthusiastic about life,” Wilcox says calmly. “Life can be really good right now, in the middle of all this stuff.”

* David Wilcox will play concerts at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. today and Saturday at the Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd. Tickets are $18, and are available at Ticketmaster outlets and from Ticketmaster by phone at (213) 480-3232.