Laura Marling’s rustic sophomore offering goes down like a smoldering shot of your finest bourbon. Once inside, her poignant verses kick your guts around before soaking in to warm your belly and leave you feeling eerily serene. The twenty-year old British folk princess, who has already had an album nominated for the prestigious Mercury award, murmurs rigorous thoughts on love, faith, fear, and loss through measured beats and intricate banjo plucks on this melancholy effort. Her backing band features a rolling cast of characters throughout, including talented members of Mumford and Sons and Noah and the Whale. The organized cacophonies that they weave using flutes, twangy guitars, pounding drums, and more add texture and authenticity to Marling’s moody lyric-centric tracks. Her words remain thoughtful and adamant as ever, reflecting the temperamental process of filling out emotionally as a maturing woman.

Buy this at iTunes.