's long-awaited second album, , opens with "Love as a Weapon," a bright and emphatic bit of dance-minded pop that suggests after five years away from the studio, the artist otherwise known as is ready to have some fun and make some music. Like 's 2011 debut , is impressively ambitious and covers a broad aural palette, from the smart, stylish pop of "Dark Dance" and the passionate indie rock of "Evan" to the moody atmospherics of "The Kissing" and the widescreen finale of "Silent Moon" and "Goodbye Every Body." While the album doesn't consistently get on the good foot after the first few tracks, there is a tone of playful liberation in this music even when it goes dramatic in the second half, and wrangles the massive clouds of sound that make up these pieces with intelligence and authority. (She does get a valuable assist from co-producer , who also shows off his multi-instrumental talents.) gathered an impressive set of collaborators for this project, including , and actual cult favorite , but this music has a strong and distinct personality of its own, and the graceful swing from the poppier first half to the more contemplative finale is a testament to 's imagination and musical intelligence. In the liner notes, states that was recorded "under duress," but the heart and soul in this music confirm that's some sort of joke; this is an album full of vivid imagination, and executed with the skills to make those ideas stick. This album deserves better than a cult following, and hopefully will have more to offer in less than five years. ~ Mark Deming