With their second studio album, the San Francisco quintet Social Studies exudes the confidence that started with the more daring selections from their 2010 debut, Wind Up Wooden Heart. The opening song here, “Delicate Hands,” is an alluring mood-setter with effervescent keyboards sparkling under the rich saturation of guitar reverb. Natalia Rogovin sings deep sideways melodies that are unpredictable while retaining a sublime catchiness. “Away for the Weekend” is the album’s second song, but it'd make for a perfect first tune on a roadtrip mix—especially with its chorus, which exercises equal amounts of rejoice and restraint. “Terracur” downshifts to a slower groove, which struts on a heavy-handed beat. Over this, Rogovin coos with an elegant and collected style that’s upstaged by guitarist Tom Smith’s impeccable tone. Here and throughout Developer, Smith’s exquisite taste in guitar and tube-amp voicing provides a nice contrast to Rogovin’s deep, Nico-inspired tenor. “Western Addition” pays tribute to a refreshingly un-hip San Francisco neighborhood with vintage organ sounds, before “Paint” closes with Rogovin singing like baroque-pop sophisticate Edie Lane.