Slow, soulful, depressing ballads, lyrically about romantic issues, utilizing acoustic guitar and bass, elements of blues, sultry. Would fit in easily enough with Morphine, Codeine (two bands with no relation to each other, at that) or Explosions in the Sky. It is appropriate that Petra Haden would appear on the cover (not just because she is the singer's sister), as appropriate as the jazz-club imagery, cigarette smoke. Songs tend to be long and drawn-out, none more than the 14-minute 'World of Blue'. I have a friend who says that this music is not 'complex' enough. That's kind of the point.

All clean
Rec: 1,6,7 (also 3, 4). Analysis by lyrics:

1 Bb major, 'They say life, is never fair, that love's so far away...'
3 'Lost my way, it's all right';'We're so close'
4 B minor, drums 'Walked away, released from all my crimes'
5 'She knew it was all over'
6 'Ray of light won't shine through, when love is through', horns a la Waits' 'Burma Shave', brilliant
7 G# minor, second chorus is 5 minutes long; 'Blue is such a cold shelter'
9 Jesus