This L.A. singer's 2007 debut was easily confused with similarly wistful work by Michelle Branch and Marié Digby. But thanks to a hard-candy production job by Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Maroon 5) — as well as a serious charisma upgrade that seems attributable to Kate Voegele's acting gig on the show One Tree Hill — her sophomore set, A Fine Mess, makes a deeper impression. Especially when she trades wimpy piano plinks for some gritty guitar chords: Leadoff single ''99 Times'' is definitely the best disco-grunge kiss-off you’ll hear all week. B–
Download This: Listen to the song 99 Times at imeem.com
