Sister Wife

Audio Mixer: Charlie Hugall.
Singer/songwriter Alex Winston's 2011 sophomore release, Sister Wife, is a breezy, intelligently cheeky, and sparkling mix of folky psych-pop and '60s-inflected dance-pop. More of a mini-album than a long-player, Sister Wife still fills out its six tracks with more hummable melodies and handclapping rhythms than many full-length releases by Winston's contemporaries. An engaging if cherubic presence on record, Winston has a voice that splits the difference between Kate Bush's operatic croon and indie sweetheart Joanna Newsom's mousey lilt. In that sense, tracks like the anthemic title track -- yes, that's "Sister Wife" in the albeit most likely metaphorical Big Love, Utah compound kind of way -- and the tap dancing-ready, '60s girl group-sounding "Choice Notes" make for tart little indie rock moments that stick in your ear. Similarly, the latter album cut "Sweet James" almost fizzes over with its bubbling cherry soda piano and Winston's yearning lovesick vocals. The track, much like the rest of Sister Wife, is so addictively giddy you may just feel compelled to share it with multiple partners. ~ Matt Collar