Know Better Learn Faster
Kill Rock Stars ***

On Thao Nguyen's debut album, We Brave Bee Stings and All,it was the blend of sassy hooks, campfire pop intimacy and charming rootsy tunes that made many take notice of her fetching musical innocence and naivety. Between then and now, Nguyen has obviously experienced a few emotional bumps, scars and knocks, making Know Better Learn Fasterthe work of a far tougher and more experienced performer. You could call it her breakup album ( Bodiescertainly jabs a finger at some lover she believes has done her wrong), but Nguyen doesn't simply wallow in self-pity and rake over the ashes of a failed relationship. Much of the album zings with a determined purpose and newfound spirit, as Nguyen and her band relish a much fuller sound, carry out more energised mapping on their tunes, and abandon themselves to the giddy momentum of the moment. www.thaomusic.com

Download tracks: Body, When We Swam