Royal Blue, LILLY HIATT’s second album, is about majestic melancholy. As she explains, it's about "accepting the sadder aspects of life and finding a sense of peace in them." The album examines the vagaries of love while refusing to idealize the notion of romance. Royal Blue is a blend of Lilly's diverse influences: a bit of surf rock, with reflections of The Smiths, some Laurel Canyon vibes, Sonic Youth's lineage, all nestled under a Britpop cover. All very well accompanied by humorous lyrics. The result is truly charming.