Tristan Prettyman, Paul Cannon

[MRAZOCHISM] A competitive surfer in adolescence and swimsuit model well before she picked up a guitar to strum breezily intelligent acoustic-chic ditties, Tristan Prettyman has lately entered into something of a full career as the long-suffering ex of Jason Mraz. Though the preoccupation might appear somewhat limiting, it's hard to argue with the creative results. For all the effervescent joy of the couple's duet on her 2005 debut, Twentythree, or the welcome tone of sardonic bemusement caused by momentary breakup on sophomore album Hello...x, autumn release Cedar + Gold binds the San Diego native's devastation to simmering electronica and uncovers new depths within her songwriting, however woeful the process of excavation.