Kevin Bronson on June 26th, 2012

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Hearing Mary Lorson’s voice again is like reconnecting with an old friend. Often mentioned in those lists of lamentably under-appreciated artists, Lorson remains a favorite of aficionados of ’90s alt-pop. And for those who cherished her four albums as lead singer of Madder Rose, there’s great news ”¦ she’s back. Her 10th disc is out – “BurnBabyBurn” by Mary Lorson & the Soubrettes – and it’s an eclectic collection that melds her gorgeously edgy voice with richly textured instrumentation that runs the gamut from plucky banjo (“Lately,” “Let ”˜Em Eat Little Debbie Cakes”) to Lorson’s own lilting piano (“Only One Number Two,” “These Police“). The album may be Lorson’s return of sorts, but she never really left. Since 2000, the indie chanteuse released three albums with the art-rock ensemble Saint Low, engaged in a side project with the Piano Creeps, scored films and did some for-hire touring, all the while having a child and surviving breast cancer, twice. And now, it’s all about adding a new musical chapter, maybe more. “Mine is a long but unfinished career,” Lorson says. “I’m still discovering areas of music and ways of thinking about it.”

– Dave Campbell

||| Download: “Lately”

||| Live: Mary Lorson plays an early set July 7 at the Hotel Cafe.

||| Also: After the jump, check out the video for “Lately”: