North Carolina songwriter followed up a pair of inconsistent EPs with her first long-player, . (The phrase appears in her song "Ghost.") An especially candid and personal set, the songs were recorded to tape at a friend's house with and , both of whom played on the album and co-produced. The resulting work sees solidly find her footing, combining pop melodies with raw, passionate vocal performances, jagged guitar riffs, and touches of noise. Opener "How I Get Myself Killed" kicks things off with echoey guitar and murmured reflections before the drums kick in and raises her voice as the idea ("This is probably how I get myself killed") becomes an assertion. The song goes on to scrutinize a burgeoning relationship. With a similar mindset, the catchy "Take Off Ur Pants" offers a slinkier bass groove that supports rambling thoughts dwelling in envy and comparison. They're interspersed with lines that confront a boyfriend, though she combines both at points ("When am I gonna find a better man/Like everybody else does/Everybody else does"). Later, the album makes room for more-resigned ballads, like "Smoke" and the one acoustic entry, "I Had to Get Out," as well as outliers like the mocking retro-rock ditty, "What Are We Gonna Do Now." These are outnumbered, though, by anguished rockers like the voice-straining, dissonance-stippled "Sick in the Head" and midtempo "Homes Team," which laments bored hook-ups with more of the album's inadequate men. As 's lyrics continue to search for fulfillment, she settles into a distinctive voice with , an album that landed her a contract with . ~ Marcy Donelson