Maria Taylor

Maria Taylor is half of Azure Ray, equal parts buoyant and brooding, and one heck of a singer. Her second album is drenched in her warm, shimmering vocals, its tracks bathed in a kind of sunlit sultriness, even as she wrestles with insecurity (the intoxicatingly wistful "Smile and Wave") and (sort of) owns up to the decisions she's made (the sultry, bluesy "My Own Fault"). Taylor's lyrics are simple, minimalist even, allowing the pensive beauty and aching melodies of her songs to take center stage.

The second solo album from ex-Azure Ray frontwoman and Bright Eyes buddy Taylor offers
thoughtful, pretty singer-songwriter fare with spare, delicate backup and dashes of
Seventies navel-gazing. It'd be nice if Taylor went easier on the introspection. But she
makes up for it with "Replay" and the Rilo Kiley-ish "Ballad of Sean Foley."