Two things you should know about My Brightest Diamond frontwoman Shara Worden: She holds a degree in opera, and she once was Sufjan Stevens'cheerleader captain. Clearly Worden does not shy away from either musical complexity or homespun theatricality. On the second album from her "band" (she's now the sole member), the New York-based multi-instrumentalist embraces the excesses of symphonic and progressive rock with the gusto of an indie-rock Sarah Brightman. Those with an aversion to space cowgirls who sing of lovers playing hide-and-seek on Pluto's moon have been warned.

Generally lighter on rock guitars and rhythms yet even more string-laden than MBD's 2006 debut, A Thousand Shark's Teeth showcases Worden's formidable chops as am arranger. Past the fuzz-bass bombast of opening cut “Inside a Boy,” Worden's musical textures mostly tend toward violins, cello, French horn, harp and various mallet instruments. She often sings of romance, but avoids the usual platitudes. Instead, Worden finds love in careful fingers folding laundry (“Apples”) or breakfasts of doughnuts and tea (“If I Were Queen”). The quaver and swoop in her cry evokes early 20th-century songbirds, but moody and mysterious tracks like “Black and Costaud” avoid conventional pop hooks, providing the ideal accompaniment for imaginary… read more »