There are albums one can relax mindlessly to, and there are albums one can relax to while thoroughly savoring each song. While the latter is a rare find, Mia Riddle And Her Band's Tigers certainly fits the bill. Cushioned and pushed along by stripped-down, folk-tinged accompaniment, Riddle demonstrates her delicate strength as a vocalist and finesse as a songwriter. The group's first full-length release, eight songs in all, is both charming and remarkably intellectual. That said, not a single track should be passed up.

Though talk of animals on "Tigers" may seem juvenile, Riddle's vocals are not childish in the least (apart from their unabashed honesty). The love-drunk shuffle of "Forgive Me" is heart-crushing, while similar fuzzy feelings are easily evoked by the soothing "Snowstorm" and "Summer at the Algonquin". The strongest track of this exquisite little bunch, however, is Riddle's playful, soulful kiss-off to a lover in "Too Late".

Good things often do come in small packages, and if it is a brief trip to bliss you're looking for, Tigers is likely as good as it gets. - Gabrielle Goodbar, The Owl Mag, www.theowlmag.com