Talia Segal's debut EP -- five songs, 15 minutes -- is designed to showcase her talent. Her voice is willowy but strong, with husky overtones, flexible enough to caress a ballad or rock out on an uptempo song.

Her lyrics have a degree of depth to them, and her music is a blend of folk and pop that soars above the ordinary. Yet the best song on the album, "Anna Joy," harkens back to the 1980s, its attitude and arrangement reminding me of Julie Brown's "'Cause I'm a Blonde." It's classic songwriting, brilliantly dressed up in a satirical bubble-gum package that can't help but to bring a smile to your face.

If you hear this EP, you'll be craving a full-length album.

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