Masts of Manhatta

iTunes Review

As Tracy Bonham grows older and her musical experiences deepen, she has subtly softened her existential woes from outright histrionic pleas to modest acts of gentle perversion. She keeps finding new ways to explore her caustic side. "We Moved Our City to the Country" sways with a country lope but wonders aloud if it's really right for people to seek to recreate their old habitats in their new environs. "Big Red Heart" works off a repetitive guitar line, a metronomic wood block and vocals that continue to layer themselves in support. "In the Moonlight" is a husky acoustic ballad where the words keep rushing forth. "You're My Is-Ness" brings back the discordant, haunting harmonies of the ‘90s with thick bass notes stalking the melody line. "Angel, Won't You Come Down" invites everyone to sit beside the fire. "I Love You Today" is the most direct love song Bonham's ever sung. Yet, you can't help feeling like things could change. She sings with a voice that doesn't invite easy solutions. No matter how laid-back, she still has conflict deep in her soul.