Who's this new chick singing those lush and romantic ballads, and why does she have a picture of a tattooed guy on her CD cover? The singer is Casey Stratton, and the guy on the cover? That's Casey, too - forget the chick, he's just a guy with a preternaturally high, almost feminine, voice. And those lush, romantic tunes? Well, Stratton's arrangements belie the dark tone of the lyrics much as the vocals belie the cover photograph.

Stratton writes piano-based pop that's nearly baroque and laced with elements of electronica. With a sound that's both unique and a bit of a throwback, Stratton sometimes calls to mind Rufus Wainright, who works in a similarly dramatic style, as well as Tori Amos. Pat Leonard (Madonna) produced and can take credit for the impeccable sound, but the soaring harmonies and melodies clearly belong to Stratton. If there's ultimately a certain sameness to the music by the disc's end, it's a small price to pay for such an original voice.

- Chris Rubin