Angels & Devils

Country singer Sarah Darling shows off her electric and acoustic sides on her second album, Angels & Devils. Her duet with Vince Gill on “Bad Habit” is a touching piece of modest modern country while the title track, “Thank You” and “Something to Do With Your Hands” all take full advantage of modern country’s pop-influenced productions. Her covers of U2’s “With or Without You” and Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” are subtle interpretations that exhibit Darling’s sensitive side, which, it turns out, is where she truly excels. Her gentle phrasing on “Stop the Bleeding,” where she is accompanied with piano, has all the richness of a learned veteran. The “A Capella” version of “Something to Do With Your Hands” includes a light rhythm track alongside a vocal ensemble that perfectly mimics sparse instrumentation. There’s a lite-FM sentimentality to “Waiting On You” and “I Found In You” that suggests Darling could easily make the transition to adult-contemporary should she desire.