This Okie favors stark arrangements on her third LP, which is smart: So much happens in her voice – tremors, skids, heart-in-throat builds – that minimal backing is plenty. Flavors vary: "For the Miner" suggests U2's "One" reimagined by Neil Young; "The Pattern Has Changed" suggests an achier Carole King. Crain's lyrics are plain-spoken. But the emotion in her tone is a dissertation.

“Time to Pretend”

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”