Thanks to the fluke hit
"Fade Into You"
-- one of the better beneficiaries of
alt-rock
's radio prominence in the early '90s, a gentle descent of a lead melody accompanied by piano, a steady beat, and above all else,
Hope Sandoval
's lovely lead vocal --
Mazzy Star
's second album became something of a commercial success. All without changing much at all from where the band was before --
David Roback
oversaw all the production, the core emphasis remained a nexus point between
country
,
folk
psych
, and classic
rock
all shrouded in mystery, and
Sandoval
's trademark drowsy drawl remained swathed in echo. But grand as
She Hangs Brightly
was,
So Tonight That I Might See
remains the group's undisputed high point, mixing in plenty of variety among its tracks without losing sight of what made the group so special to begin with. Though many songs work with full arrangements like
"Fade Into You,"
a thick but never once overpowering combination, two heavily stripped-down songs demonstrate in different ways how
makes a virtue out of simplicity.
"Mary of Silence"
is an organ-led slow shuffle that easily ranks with the best of
the Doors
, strung-out and captivating all at once,
's singing and
Roback
's careful acid soloing perfect foils.
"Wasted,"
meanwhile, revisits a classic
blues
riff slowed down to near-soporific levels, but the snarling crunch of
's guitar works wonders against
's vocals, a careful balance that holds. If there's a left-field standout, then unquestionably it's
"Five String Serenade."
A cover of an
Arthur Lee
song -- for once not a
Love
-era number, but a then-recent effort --
's delicate acoustic guitar effortlessly brings out its simple beauty. Tambourine and violin add just enough to the arrangement here and there, and
's calm singing makes for the icing on the cake. ~ Ned Raggett