Search - Lois :: Infinity Plus

This album opens with a snippet from the film To Kill a Mockingbird, and it's strangely appropriate, since Maffeo's talent is similar to that of Harper Lee in both its singularity and its breadth and her chutzpah reminds one of Scout's. Infinity Plus lopes along with a charming grace and most of the songs are played at room temperature, never really amplified, highlighted by Maffeo's silky voice. The gem here is "Rougher," which features a hushed cameo and some sweet guitar work from Elliott Smith. Most of the songs map the emotional terrain between lovers estranged either by distance ("A Summer Song"), betrayal ("Rougher"), or mere communication ("Silent Auction"), but she reserves pity and judgment for other subjects, treating her misbegotten couples with tender respect. Despite its title, Infinity Plus is neither huge nor overreaching nor overly ambitious; rather, it's quiet and subtle. Perhaps Infinity Plus is a measurement of the distance between Maffeo's star-crossed lovers. --Tod Nelson