Sally Crewe’s 2003 debut, Drive It Like You Stole It, was a charming underdog of an album, but the prominent role of stateside pals Britt Daniel and Jim Eno left some wondering how heavily its pop smarts were Spoon-fed. The Yorkshire native has since relocated to Spoon’s Austin stomping grounds, recast the Sudden Moves as an autonomous combo, and, based on these results, proven that props were due to Crewe rather than her crew. Shortly After Take-Off’s 13 tracks, built on Crewe’s taut, spiky riffseach clock in around two minutesare a tad less DIY than Drive It, but no less economical. Bassist Rhodri Marsden turbocharges several with sugary-sweet backing vocals, reinforcing an early new wave vibe (think early Cars with less keyboard) not as a fashion statement, but as a means to no-bullshit songcraft. Crewe’s auto jones carries over from Drive It, as evidenced by standouts “My Heart’s A Motorway” and “Good Morning, Aston Martin,” but her obsessions now extend to the beginnings and ends of relationships. She pins the euphoria of early infatuation on “(Don’t Let Me) Talk About the Weather” (the 3:13 running time seems downright epic) with the savvy line “I wanna spend all day with you. Don’t care about the night.” Pure high-octane!

- Glen Sarvady, CMJ