The Mynabirds - What We Lose In The Fire... (2010)

What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood might be the mellow dinner-party album of the year, except that it is barely long enough to get through the first wave of appetizers. With clear similarities to Jenny Lewis, with and without Rilo Kiley, The Mynabirds put forth a well-crafted, pleasant and uplifting set of indie / alt. country tracks that rely heavily on strong, but not over-powering, female vocals. There is a timeless approach and a fade-into-the-background feel that allows this simply to be on and soothing, while not so much demanding attention. Some would say that such a feature is a negative; however, there is certainly value in being acceptable for both lazy, rainy afternoons and social gatherings alike. Although musically, the album falls in line with many who have come before, Laura Burhenn's vocals and lyrics are graceful and classic. "Numbers Don't Lie" and "Wash It Out" stand out as having especially catchy choruses, but the other short and sweet tracks all have appealing qualities, with to apparent letdowns. Next time a social occasion presents itself, that doesn't demand dance-beats or karaoke sing-alongs, throw on The Mynabirds and have everyone guess who it is.