On Phases, Caroline Pennell shows off the skills that allowed her to make the tricky transition from reality TV contestant to real-world songbird. Pennell's inviting brand of alt-pop takes a soft-sell approach, utilizing nuanced electronics, spare production, and, of course, her own comely croon, which curls gently but confidently around the melodies with an appealing sense of playfulness. On "Patient," her voice pirouettes gracefully, accompanied by little more than piano, while "Lovesick" employs subtly sinuous grooves, but Pennell's quietly commanding style is always at the center.