Consumer Guide Album

Kimya Dawson: Hidden Vagenda [K, 2004]
Dawson's high little voice and whimsical imaginings camouflage a brave heart that gives her the courage to be silly--and enables her to confront psychological dysfunction more candidly than any mopeaholic or drama queen to come to my attention (which both types admittedly have a hard time getting). Her chin-up ditties don't connect every time, but her abandonment of home recording will win new listeners anyway. Pop quiz: Who do you think is the target of the do-what-I-do advice "They can't all be ballads Julian"? A-