Cigarettes & Smoke Machines

Tracy Shedd's helpful reminder on the opening track from her latest album of smart, pointed pop is a direct and economic assertion backed by sharp musicianship and just the right amount of reverb. Cigarettes and Smoke Machines, is Shedd's most accomplished record in a career that has now spanned four full-lengths. A fan of artists that drape their vocals in various shrouds (My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, The Jesus and Mary Chain), Tracy decided that she never really wanted her vocals up front, an edict that permeated her previous recordings. Now, Shedd lets go and we benefit from vocal performances that establish the arresting emotional core of her latest record.