Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart (2008)

Rachael Yamagata's first album was one of 2004's best, but the charms of this follow-up aren't evident on the first listen. Or second. The problem lies in the structure of Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart — it's a ''record in 2 parts,'' consisting of nine ballads followed by five grittier numbers. The result is a slog that'll have you reaching for the happy pills. That said, Yamagata's delivery is gorgeous. And amid all the moroseness are some standouts, including ''Elephants,'' which belongs in the canon of great spurned-lover songs, and ''Sidedish Friend,'' which, contrary to its title, is not about a pal who brings candied yams to dinner. B–
Download This: Listen to ''Elephants'' on the musician's MySpace page