New album from My Brightest Diamond, the nom de plume of multi-instrumentalist and one time Sufjan Stevens collaborator Shara Worden. “Sharks Teeth,” is a stunning offering of chamber-folk-pop, the classically trained singer's intensely personal songs made all the more dramatic by her self-penned arrangements and the backing of a string quartet. Album download includes three EXCLUSIVE BONUS TRACKS recorded "Live at Other Music." (Watch the film in our Video Archive.)

Shara Worden's much-anticipated follow-up to 2006's Bring Me the Workhorse comes just in time to find its rightful place in the winner's circle of 2008's summer releases. The former Awry frontwoman and Illinoise-maker continues her march into the folk-opera-rock borderlands, taking a busload of guest musicians and a curio store's worth of eclecticism along for the campaign. Originally slated to be a conscious move away from musical bric-a-brac in order to focus more on Worden's classical chops, Shark's Teeth makes sure to include the string quartet and Shara's refined, regal pipes but does good to insure that they're never without a distorted guitar, vibraphone or vocal twist at their side. The album opens lively enough; "If I Were Queen" plucks along with all the warmth and character of a vintage Disney ballad, followed merrily by the delicate-but-coy "Apples." However, the Diamond shines brightest on the dark epics lingering on the second half of the record. The exceptional "Black & Coustad" showcases Worden's voice in an ominous Chanson setting -- sounding kind of like Regina Spektor speckled with drips of Tom Waits moonshine. All over the album, Worden's hypnotic voice hits every target set for it, especially on "Bass Player" and "To Pluto's Moon," where bass licks play with mandolins before turning the show over to a raucous power-chord finale. Despite feeling some kinship with the work of other indie female singer-songwriters, Shark's Teeth will tickle all tastes this summer and continues to build the reputation of a rising star. [DS] (6/18/08)