A rare compliment I get to pay to albums lately is listening to it from start to finish, as it has become uncommon for an album to have no songs on it that aren't great. What's awesome here, is I have paid that compliment to this album now about 7 times since I got it last week. From start to finish, this is Alfa at her best and it's really cool to hear the love and attention that was poured into each track and how much she has evolved as an artist. Spark and Fury has a great mix of upbeat and catchy songs that at times channel the Postal Service meets foster the people meets Ingrid michaelson (Take me home), and then channels a Sara Bareilles feel circa gravity with Round and Round. Then of course tracks like Blue and M.O. Have a fun spunkiness them with all the attitude of Kat Dennings from 2 Broke Girls. From Me drives home the fact that Alfa doesn't make bad songs, as the final track makes you just want to listen to the album again. Moral of the story, I love this album...and I think you will to. So if you like music, give it a listen.

Fresh! - Fun! - Fantastic! - But Definitely Not Incomplete. 

The evolution of Alfa's songwriting has been a joy to experience. The songs on this album are catchy without being formulaic, and Alfa has such a talent for combining lyrical depth with beautiful melodies. I'd say my favorite tracks are Bare Feet (played it on repeat for nearly an hour when I first listened to it), Take Me Home, and Incomplete (again played on repeat for nearly an hour), but the whole album is fantastic. Do yourself a favor and buy this album!

In by far her most mature and sincere release, Alfa takes us on a heartfelt and soul searching journey with the perfect balance of joyful upbeat notes. The album hits a range of dynamics and styles to accommodate the breadth of the human condition in a span of forty or so minutes. And in a time where everything is uncertain, this album is a welcome companion to go through the emotional curveballs life seems to throw us (perfectly summed up in one of the final tracks, "Nothing Ever Lasts.") The listener will experience the dizzying moments of falling for a new love with Alfa in "Incomplete," a charming, upbeat number near the top of the album. Then the melodic themes and gaining momentum in "Round and Round" match the incredibly apropos lyrics reflecting a circuitous relationship. My favorite track, "M.O." is a cathartic way to experience the playful indignation of an underdog with delicious production akin to the whimsical styles of Regina Spektor or Sara Bareilles. Alfa's storytelling takes a vulnerable turn in the final track, "From Me" journeying through the somber notes of the end of a great love, and somehow manages to create the most bittersweet, silver lined note to end on. Perfect to listen to in its entirety on a long drive, run, or bike ride yet each song can stand on its own for a quicker sampling of your emotional palate!

"Spark and Fury" is Alfa's most mature album to date. The blend of over-arching themes of: finding her way, opening herself to love, being understood, and developing confidence and self-understanding, are the hallmarks of this collection. Track 1, "Bare Feet," an up-tempo whimsical song you'd drive along listening to on a sunny beach day, is a deeply honest tune about finding one's place. This song sets the tone for the record. The listener is taken on a musical journey through Alfa's psyche as she searches for identity, wonders about what will complete her, and even dreams of being known by the "Man on the Radio." The middle of the album sees the slower-paced ballad "Round and Round," which allows access to the "wheels spinning" in her head. My favorite track is the 6th, "Rubber Band" which is so powerful, not just in terms of lyrics and composition, but also showcases the dynamism of her vocal range. The album winds down with songs capturing vulnerability and change, and ends with "From Me," an emotionally raw melody which leaves the listener wanting more! This record is not simply a snapshot of Alfa's maturation as a woman, but it's also a testimony to how tirelessly pursuing her ambitions has paid off in her strongest album yet.

Alfa is one of those rare breed of artists who can keep her songs pure and innocent yet mature and complex at the same time. These 10 songs from Alfa show just how far she has come and what an accomplished songwriter she has become. You can hear just how hard she's worked at each one of the songs without compromises or shortcuts.