Note: Maria has recorded three albums as one half of the vocal duo Azure Ray, and this is her second solo album.
Sound: Less icy and dreamy than her debut, 11:11. Lynn Teeter Flower still features Maria’s warm and gentle vocals, but with more organic production and a new-found emphasis on classic pop songcraft and beefed-up rhythms. There are a couple stripped-down acoustic moments, but more often you’re likely to hear an assortment of keyboard instruments (including the clavinet, mellotron and Wurlitzer piano) along with a full band.
Look For: “The Ballad of Sean Foley,” written by and featuring background vocals from Maria’s labelmate Conor Oberst (aka Bright Eyes).
Heavy Rotation tracks: “A Good Start”; “Smile and Wave”
Medium Rotation tracks: “My Own Fault”; “Clean Getaway”; “Replay”
Explicit Lyrics*: none
Recommended: Maria stretches out into many surprising and satisfying new directions on Lynn Teeter Flower and truly establishes herself as a solo artist.
Grade: B+
* Noting of explicit lyrics is for the benefit of radio music directors or anyone else that needs/wants to keep their music FCC-friendly.
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