Helium
The Magic City (Matador) (star) (star)
Helium leader Mary Timony comes off as indie-rock’s answer to Sarah McLaughlin or Tori Amos on the Boston trio’s second full-length record. Like them, she depicts a quasi-mystical realm, filling hers with birds, trees, stars and, inevitably, dragons and unicorns. The music in this enchanted forest is, appropriately, arty pop full of romantic flourishes, like the harpsichord-driven instrumental “Medieval People.” Timony gives it an inventive twist, though, by adding tumbling drums, fuzzy keyboards and chiming guitars worthy of Pavement, and her breathy vocals have the jaded detachment of someone too knowing to believe in fairy tales. Unfortunately, the music’s contradictory sensibilities make many songs ineffective as either flowery pop or slacker rock. The best moments come when her dreamy vocals ride the taut grooves of “Devil’s Tears” and “Walk Away.”