Far From Home

does what a second album needs to do: it's simultaneously a consolidation and expansion of ' strengths as a singer/songwriter, a record that proves the debut was no fluke. may be flying independent here -- after a run on , she's releasing this 2020 album on her own -- but she doesn't run away from . She retains as producer and doubles down on the rough-hewn hybrid of rock and country she dubs "garage country," a term that suggests something a bit grimier than what she achieves. does ramp up the rock -- the duet "My Love Will Not Change" is strident and sturdy, "Troublemaker" revs to a fuzzed-up riff -- but she also borrows atmospheric rock moves, such as the spacy "Haven't Even Kissed Me Yet." Her music remains rooted in country and Americana, particularly in its sturdy songcraft. The pleasure in is how that craft provides a foundation for her to roam into other aural territories without ever getting lost. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine