Following their Billboard debut, the -produced , by three years, is the self-produced third LP for Philadelphia indie rock group . Fans will find much of what they appreciated about here, as bandleader returns with more of her evocative lyricism delivered with a spontaneity that extends to the whole band. Unlike , a more expansive sound includes synths, a string section, and backing vocalists. The results occasionally surprise, as on "Not Abel," a song whose acoustic guitar and plucked and bowed strings are part of a chamber arrangement that captures a certain blues-rock demeanor even before the electric guitars kick in. The track also bears the off-kilter rhythmic and melodic quality of the group's prior work, which they quickly reestablish on the opener, "How Simple," with passing moments of dissonance, jerky syncopation, and leaping intervals that move between bandmembers as the rest drive steadily forward. On , that quality sometimes extends to timbre, as well. On the relatively jaunty "Somewhere a Judge," conspicuous vocal processing makes an appearance, if briefly, on a track that has wondering why she's always so mean when she stops by. Elsewhere, strong vocal harmonies and sunny chords mark the chorus of "Look of Love," a song that also includes references to hospitalized authors, barely legible handwriting, and dreams of spiders crawling across the bed. While something is almost always askew, on average, the album feels a little broader and brighter than . Thankfully, it does so without sacrificing lyrical impact or smoothing out 's distinctive, compelling sound. ~ Marcy Donelson