Following 2010's acclaimed debut What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood and a year on the road touring as part of Bright Eyes, singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn teamed up with producer Richard Swift (The Shins, Richard Swift) again and emerged with Generals, a sophomore album fully armed. In place of the Zen meditations found on the Mynabirds' first album, Generals is filled with armies of stomps and claps, sweeping full spectrum orchestrations, and moments that range from intensely personal pleas to shout-out-loud protests with teeth.

Recommended if you like: PJ Harvey, St. Vincent, Nina Simone.