Five years after leaving the band Titus Andronicus, Amy Klein has certainly been keeping herself busy. Klein has been performing live with her groups Leda and Amy Klein & the Blue Star Band, and playing and recording with Hilly Eye. But Klein's 2016 album, Fire, feels like it's billed as a solo album for a good reason. Fire's 11 songs feel and sound truly personal, and Klein delivers her lyrics with a clear, quavering voice that makes this album sound as intimate as an acoustic singer/songwriter effort. But if Klein's songs are introspective and soul-baring, the performances are real-deal rock & roll. The crisp report of Klein's guitars and her overdubbed violin vie for the spotlight with Colin Brooks' drums, which are high up enough in the mix that they could be considered a lead instrument. Play Fire at a decent volume and this stuff gives out a mighty thunder, but the relatively delicacy of Klein's vocals fare remarkably well under the circumstances, sounding fierce and impassioned even when her instrument seems to belie her instincts. Klein has said that Fire was meant to be an album about growing up, and these songs reflect the rage, joy, and confusion that greet a young person stepping out into the world. And while Klein's songs touch on many of the standard concerns of a twenty-something making her way in the big city, as with many coming-of-age stories it's not what you say but how you say it. And Klein's lyrics are fresh, honest, and powerful, while her folk-tinged melodies truly make them connect. Fire is an intriguing and rewarding first salvo from Amy Klein, who reveals she's a one-of-a-kind talent with a unique perspective and the talent to make it effective.