There’s a lot to like on Denise Barbarita’s album Chaos and Congeniality. It begins with a bang; “In Pieces” is a work of haunting beauty—with lush vocals and indelible hooks. At times, Barbarita’s vocals enter the tough-girl realm of Chrissie Hynde, particularly on the album’s single, “Hush Hush.”

There’s a little incongruity; a fair number of pedestrian ballads mix with more straight-ahead rock tunes, but perhaps they’re meant as congenial musical offerings amidst the surrounding chaos. At any rate, the NYC-based Barbarita leaves off with a strong closer, “The Last Breakdown,” a seven-minute rock exploration that takes listeners on quite a journey.