Holly Miranda — The Magician's Private Library

Although the most notable thing on Holly Miranda's resume is membership in the mini-buzz indie band The Jealous Girlfriends, she first came to New York's music scene as a solo artist. The Girlfriends are on hold to allow for the pursuit of other projects, so Miranda returns with her second full-length, The Magician's Private Library.

Its utterly haunting songs have a dreamy texture that makes them seem to float forever in the stratosphere. Miranda's vocals mesmerize with an unnerving vulnerability that threatens to break down at any moment — just listen to her gorgeous "Ooo ooo ooos" on "Joints" or how heartbreaking she sounds on the Blonde Redhead-esque "Slow Burn Treason."

Aural comparisons to PJ Harvey and Cat Power will be inevitable, but with TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek producing, Miranda's music forges a decidedly different path as a singer/songwriter. "No One Just Is" is perhaps the most Sitek-influenced. It's dark and foreboding with tension-filled keyboard strikes,  and it shows Miranda's desire to create her own brand of moody, atmospheric ballads and lullabies.

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