The second solo album by S -- the solo persona of former
Carissa's Weird leader Jenn Ghetto -- has a title that reminds listeners of the riot grrrl era of female demystification, but while
Puking and Crying has some unflinching lyrics about interpersonal relationships, it's much more sonically inviting than the average album by the likes of
Bikini Kill or
Huggy Bear. In fact,
Puking and Crying sounds a lot like an
Exile in Guyville for a new generation of indie girls, trading
Liz Phair's lo-fi guitars (except on the abruptly-shortened solo opener "5 Dollars") for an equally homemade-sounding stew of electronics and tape manipulations and her sexually forthright lyrics for a more diffident, guarded persona. There's a similarly intimate, personal feel to this record, but songs like "The Coffin of Your True Love" and the haunting, spooky "I'm Fine...Bye Bye" are more musically akin to the electro-pop cut-ups of
the Postal Service or
Xiu Xiu. Regardless,
Puking and Crying is an immensely satisfying album, far superior to S's minimal solo debut
Sadstyle.