Sees the Light

Katy Goodman named her second solo album Sees the Light because, when spoken aloud, it could be heard as “seize the light”—another way of declaring her newfound confidence and focus. After a year of growth and transition (following her sublimely dense and hazy self-titled 2011 debut), the Vivian Girls bassist emerges with a second solo record that's sharper and more rugged, with songs that both luxuriate in the wrappings of shoegazery and sparkle with clarity. “Love That’s Gone” opens with a languid, girl-group melody, stripped down to Goodman’s dreamy vocal and the barest of percussion and guitar carrying her voice along like a twig in a creek. That gives way to the shimmering, multilayered “Please Be My Third Eye,” a superbly catchy pop tune with a fun chorus and sweet sentiment. These two tracks lay the groundwork for Sees the Light, a multitextured collection of songs that range from neon-colored atmospherics to Ramones-tinged pop. The breezy acoustic guitar on “I’m Alone” and the tropical flavor of “Real Boy” are nice touches, and the breathless pop-punk of “Break My Heart” is a real standout. Is it summer yet?