Pretty Little Head (Hungry Mouse)

Nellie McKay’s 2004 debut, Get Away From Me, was such a precocious, witty, and unexpected left-field delight it seemed too good to be true—or at least too good to be on a major label. Well, thank God that’s changed. Apparently dropped from Sony’s roster when she refused to cut back on Pretty Little Head’s 23 tracks, the prolific and ambitious singer-songwriter has released her second album on her own imprint, and balance has been restored to the universe. All the things critics and fans loved about the first record, which pegged McKay as the Norah Jones for folks who can’t stand jazz lite, are intact on the NYC–based vegan’s follow-up. Clever political propaganda, percussive piano-playing, and show-tune melodies are all tied up with the songwriter’s sometimes mischievous, sometimes self-righteous personality and restless talent.

When everything comes together, McKay is awesome. “Beecharmer” (with guest Cyndi Lauper) and “Cupcake” fizz over with hooks, and “Long and Lazy River” and “The Down Low” are the kind of pithily urbane tunes Cole Porter would be writing if he were alive today and strung out on frothy lattes.

It could be that the whole record-company thing has been blown out of proportion. It’s a good story, after all: ambitious artist’s wings clipped by the label that has given the world Five for Fighting. At any rate, as long as she’s capable of putting jingles like “Pounce” alongside funny-sad tunes like “Mama & Me”, McKay should be free to do whatever she wants.