Anna Nalick has the lyrics to dominate the fading female singer-songwriter era but, unfortunately, not the music to back her up.

With an uncanny vocal resemblance to Alanis Morisette and piano-based music that falls along the lines of Vanessa Carlton, Nalick proves her lyrics soar beyond the music her backing band provides.

“What if I bleed / what if I break,” Nalick sings with hope in her voice on “Citadel.” Her positive attitude continues through the album and becomes a little heavier during the bridge of a song, but beyond that, repetitive themes flow throughout.

Songs continue to follow the same structure, with piano leads, acoustic guitars backing the vocals, light distortion on the chorus and a solo here and there.

Drummer Matt Chamberlain adds his definitive touch to every session that he plays on and allows his rhythm to be the backbone to the musical aspect album.

“And if this is giving up, then I’m giving up,” Nalick sings on the title track. No need to give up when a change of music style would benefit the singer-songwriter. Thinking outside the lines never did anyone wrong and may even lead to a stronger follow-up album. Nothing wrong with trying, though.