You might expect Very Secretary, who hail from Champaign, IL, to sound like some of their regional counterparts (Braid, Number One Cup) -- but don't be so quick to pigeonhole the band's music based on location alone. On their sophmore effort, Very Secretary achieve a melancholy sound that comes equipped with stark optimism and unbridled hope. Musically, Standing in the Shade is a rather slow-burn; the songs gradually open themselves up, revealing layers of warmth and melody. Instrumental tracks such as "Countryless" and "Paid to forget" waft gently out of your speakers, soft guitars and eerie violin intertwining to create maudlin symphonies for your bedroom walls and bookshelves. Lyrically, the disc evokes a sense of confusion laced with hope and wonder about what will eventually come. David Johnson's vocals glide effortlessly over chiming, sleepy instrumentation on tracks like "Permanence" and "Feeling Cheated," giving them a hazy, Elliot Smith-like feel. Standing in the Shade isn't a chaotic sonic assault, but rather the sound of a band looking inward and realizing they really do like what they see.