The title sounds militant but in fact it reflects a hopefulness, a quality that informs the overall sadness of the majority of this effort. The pair takes turns with the vocals with Hazard’s work being the most striking. Her voice is not particularly unique but her delicate phrasing on this set of folk-pop perfectly conveys the fragility of trying to hold a long-term relationship together.
“Brighter Discontent” is an album stand-out and should be pleasing to fans of Sheryl Crow while “Modern Inventions” has a lush bed of (happy!) harmony vocals for its hook.
Grade: B