Jade Sylvan has a lot of good friends in the Boston music scene. With their help and encouragement, she learned to play the guitar while writing and recording one of the better albums I've heard all year, making a seemingly easy transition from acclaimed poet to singer-songwriter. The production on this record, done primarily in the attic of Lee Wizda (Red Car Records), in their spare time, is stunning. Cellos, violins, farfisa, vocal choruses and various percussive elements are wrapped around Sylvan's charming guitar lines and often delicate voice.

Lyrically, Jade runs through a variety of subjects with a cynic's wit and a penchant for word play, which is to say you'll either love it or hate it. Or, maybe, you'll mildly disapprove. Look, I'm not a mindreader. My favorite tracks are Carbon to Carbon and Turning, and are therefore the ones you should sample while deciding on whether to purchase the album. I'm kidding, of course! You should just buy it outright.

The single, If I Knew Now, featuring the most playful subject matter, has an accompanying hand drawn stop motion animation video, currently available for viewing enjoyment on her website. The entire LP can be previewed and downloaded via her BandCamp page, which you should go to as soon as is possible, but in an orderly fashion. Always orderly.

--Charles Murphy