David Karsten Daniels

Just one year after David Karsten Daniels' Fat Cat debut, the broken-hearted folkie is back at it with Fear of Flying, an album mixed with joy, self-doubt and, of course, fear. Like its predecessor, the commendable Sharp Teeth, Daniels' fifth album is one that likes to toy with emotions, balancing uplifting sing-alongs with "sad guy" folk and the occasional dash of the avant-garde. And while emotion still remains behind the album's wheel, the sentiments come out a bit tamer this time around, with the recent Seattle immigrant trading much of his past catharsis and crashing army of instruments for a more subtle formula. This often means you find Daniels stripping things down to little more than his soothing voice and guitar while only occasionally injecting a bit of variety with the help of a full band. For the most part this works but it does demand more patience, with not as many standout moments as Sharp Teeth to immediately gratify. If you're up for some digging though, there are some gems to be found on Fear of Flying.