Thao breaks from her folkier roots and incorporates soul, strings, rock, shoegaze, and even more handclaps and wails into her newest, “Know Better Learn Faster.” Despite the diverse sounds, this is definitely a break-up album. Thao deceives with upbeat melodies backing downright depressing lyrics. In some songs she’s worn down by love, in others she’s angry as hell, and in the slower ones, she just sounds lonely. Raucous, rocking, distressed, DIY, wailing, gorgeous, melancholy, achingly honest, heart-wrenching, danceable – this album is wondrous! And made even better by guest appearances by Andrew Bird, Blitzen Trapper, Horse Feathers, Laura Veirs, and Tune-Yards.