Madder Rose - Panic On (2014)

Like Lush and Shallow, Madder Rose is an alternative pop/rock outfit that thrives on contrasts, and has no problem uniting an unlikely variety of disparate elements into a cohesive and appealing whole. Panic On, the New York band's second date, is full of melodic sweetness as well as dissonance and rough edges. Comparable to Suzanne Vega, lead singer/guitarist Mary Lorson favors a light and waifish vocal style, but paradoxically, she's expressive and quite substantial on songs ranging from the rockin' "Drop a Bomb" to the eerie "Almost Lost My Mind" and the slightly Indian-influenced "Foolish Ways." Those who like jangly guitar pop full of surprising twists and turns would do well to check out this unpredictable CD.