's note to fans in the booklet of her third album refers to extreme personal turbulence experienced since the making of , and explains that "the meantime" is what occurs between "birth and death, pain and joy." She attempts to make sense of it all here with help from a mostly new group of collaborators. Nearly every song on works through conflicting emotions with a profusion of metaphors. The approach is so common that it's striking when switches tack on "You Let Me Down," a cathartic if casually delivered highlight that makes evident her ability to stun with simplicity. (The song is universal and pliant enough to be converted into a pop-punk anthem or a contemporary country ballad.) A breeziness to certain productions, and 's light melodic touch throughout, prevent the album from being an unqualified downer. "Sweet Dream," one of several songs produced by collaborator , is depressive insomniac trap-pop with a sighing fantasy sequence in the chorus. "Somebody Else," made with and , would be ideal for a carefree skip through a sunlit cityscape if it wasn't for the sentiment of betrayal that surfaces early at "It was nice for a while." Assisted by , soul provider -- essentially filling the role played on 's previous albums -- puts an twist on the style he perfected with through "Shapeshifter." It's a sullen shuffler in which recounts an elusive romance with some of her cleverest phrasings. On the closing song, and "You Let Me Down" producer finally let in the light with a mellow groove that at once comes across as a sequel to "Four Pink Walls" and a nod to 's "New Apartment." From start to finish, lolling hooks flood 's mind as much as indecision, skepticism, and other negative thoughts. They make all the bad stuff go down easy, enabling the listener to have a proper sulk that soothes. ~ Andy Kellman