The second full-length from Memphis-to-Brooklyn singer-songwriter Megan Reilly comes on like a fever-dream, slow, hot and swooning, brimming with love and death and sadness and joy. There are elements here of later Mazzy Star, with lovely country-tinged orchestration and sexy, swooning vocals, or Neko Case, but Reilly's voice is all her own. A wonderful, timeless album of haunting country pop.

The second full-length from Memphis-to-Brooklyn singer-songwriter Megan Reilly comes on like a fever-dream, slow, hot and swooning, brimming with love and death and sadness and joy. Reilly has a warm, expressive voice that can be both hazy and powerfully direct, and this new batch of subtle, rootsy songs give her plenty of room to shine. The band and production team features a number of notables, including Tim Foljahn (Cat Power/Two Dollar Guitar) on guitar, Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu) on bass, Steve Goulding (Mekons) on drums, and Eric Morrison (Home) on keys. Sue Garner produced the album (with Tortoise/Sea & Cake's John McEntire on the mix), allowing room for this talented group of players to craft rich yet subtle sounds and always leaving room for Reilly's emotional singing as the centerpiece of the songs. There are elements here of later Mazzy Star, with lovely country-tinged orchestration and sexy, swooning vocals, or Neko Case, but Reilly's voice is all her own. Simply put, Reilly has crafted a wonderful, timeless sophomore record of quiet, haunting country pop. [JM] (April 6, 2006)