Haley Bonar — Last War

The fifth long-player from the Canadian-born, South Dakota-raised, St. Paul, Minnesota-based singer/songwriter, Last War finds Haley Bonar ditching the relatively stark and plaintive folk stylings of previous outings in favor of a more muscular, indie rock-driven sound that locates the sweet spot between the earthy Northern Americana of Neko Case, the pop acumen of Aimee Mann, and the meaty, cinematic electro-dream pop of Frankie Rose. Written and recorded after a period of personal upheaval, the nine-track Last War is anything but a downer. Sure, Bonar is angry at the chauvinistic music industry ("No Sensitive Man") and the rote encumbrances of adulthood ("Bad Reputation"), but she's also resolute about pairing that ire with pure pop craftsmanship, resulting in a remarkably focused and effortlessly melodic set of songs with incredibly sharp hooks, both figuratively and literally. Opener "Kill the Fun" isn't nearly as punitive as its title would imply. It's a big, bright open-road gem