Florida-bred singer/songwriter Sam Friend schooled himself in jazz at the University of Miami before hitting the indie-rock yellow brick road from Seattle to Brooklyn and back to cut sophomore effort Lady Madly. The effort laces Friend's Shins-y vocals and frantic improvisational education with bits of strings, horns and wide-hooked guitars aimed at all things pop, with sweet-sad numbers with names like "Mister Huggins" and "Smile for the Camera." (Gavin Paul)
