Nicole Atkins has a powerhouse voice (think Neko Case or Brandi Carlisle) that runs from passionate and gritty to seductive and sultry. On Mondo Amore, her emotionally charged second release, she holds nothing back and gets the most out of her fantastic voice. There are many electrifying moments to savor among these 10 dynamic, well-crafted songs. “Vultures” and “You Were the Devil” are haunting and raw, she works herself, and the band, into a cathartic howl on “The Tower,” and emotes beautifully on the lush piano ballads “Hotel Plaster” and “War Is Hell,” the latter of which features harmony vocals by My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. There’s also the scorching country-blues of “My Baby Don’t Lie,” a couple of roots-rock gems in “You Come to Me” and “This Is for Love”), and the exuberant pop of “Cry Cry Cry.” A great band and rich orchestration that includes tremolo guitar, violin, and organ all support the dark mood of the album. This enjoyable follow-up to her impressive debut, Neptune City, is further proof of Atkins’ considerable talent.