“Cool” can mean many things, but in the world of underground rock ‘ n’ roll, coolness means not displaying any strong feelings. Stoics like Lou Reed are worshiped as gods and over emoting is often seen as a sign of weakness or a concession to mainstream tastes. (Witness the use of “emo” as a derogatory term for punks who sing about romance.)

Mia Doi Todd is not cool; quite the opposite. The Los-Angeles-based singer-songwriter has a voluptuous voice that’s warm in several senses of the word, and the gentle folk-pop of her fifth album envelops it like a snug blanket. “Manzanita” (Plug Research) is flush with heightened sensitivity, as Todd sings with the wide-eyed fervor of a woman who privileges feeling over thought.

Her lyrics aim straight for the heart, conveying the very essence of an emotion using the barest minimum amount of words. Over the lazy shuffle of “What If We Do?” she murmurs, “We sit in the grass and we talk of our pasts, a roll call of all our lovers / A feeling arises we both recognize, we could fulfill each other / What if we do?” That’s the giddiness and fear of the first blush of romance. The halting, unadorned solo piano piece “Muscle, Blood and Bone” ends with the simple declaration, “I want you and me together / Faithfully and through all weather.” What more is there to say?

With the notable exception of “Casa Nova,” a misguided attempt at reggae, the music on “Manzanita” – played by Todd along with members of various L.A. rock bands, including Beachwood Sparks, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Dead Meadow – wisely stays out of the way of the lyrics. It lets Todd display her uncoolness in all its glory, standing up for the beauty in unabashed sentimentality.

Mia Doi Todd will perform at the Mercury Lounge tonight at 10 p.m. (217 E. Houston Street, at Avenue A, 212-260-4700).