Jen Bye's lucky 13 tracked CD, "Less than Perfect for this World" launches into "Heaven", and immediately establishes the musical genre as alternative/pop/punk professionally produced, poetically written, and sung/arranged with a touch of influence from Vega and Colvin. Her vocal arrangements are musical and compelling - and the highlight of many of the tracks as the timbre of her voice cuts through and is mixed with tremendous presence and power. She sings, 'i haven't been to heaven in years and it hasn't been the same since'. Track 2, "Invincible", is an artistic and compelling confessional of the dysfunctional life she survived through her own esteem as invincible, as Bye writes, 'they tell me that i need a shrink, when all i really need is a stiff drink, and no one can read my mind cause my own thoughts confuse me all the time. .i know i can be a bitch but most of what i say is a load of shit." Track 3, "Arse", is a punk/angst filled gem with a guitar sound that we drool over. Jen sings, 'he only wants me and i only want him for his piece of ass' as Bye turns the gender cliche table around in straight-ahead rock/punk fashion. Tremendous production - listen to the drums and introduction to track 5, "Caught Up in Between", the snare, if it's ok to notice these things, is recorded pefectly. .we love the snare. The tune itself has another cool vocal arrangement in the chorus - and the musical highlight is the slightly psychotic cry-baby lead guitar. Bye uses some musical dissonance with finesse to make a point of how 'i think about you all the time'. Track 6 is a poetic and beautiful dedication to a former relationship with memorable chorus, vocal choices, and line, 'i miss you more in Mexico, then I ever do back home, I miss you more in Mexico, cause its safer here to shed my tears cause you can't see me cry'. Track 8, "Lollipops and Candy Canes" makes depression sound fun as Bye sings repeatedly how she's so depressed, panned left, then right, and you're so depressed. .and 'de doot doot doot'. The point being, even though the good 'ol days are gone and missed, it's ok. .de doot doot doot. The following track is a brooding western sounding musical departure from the rest of the record. "Desert Man" is a crushing emotionally-charged story of searching and discovery, 'take me down to the water's edge so i can be naked in the sun. .i'll dive in and hold my breath'. Track 10, "Necessary Evil", is chaos and musical exploration that combines psychotic passages and sweet sugary keyboards and lyric lines - the most ambitious on the CD. Almost like a religious hymn Bye starts her dedication to the cit of 'San Francisco' with majestic piano lines ala Elton. 'i can feel the courage in my blood, and san francisco is calling me back home'. Gorgeous with pure value of a sincere love for the town, void of all the angst that occupies most of the record. The final track is a sweet song 'Birds of Paradise' dedicated to Heather and ends with the kindest of treats, a child's phone greeting on a voice mail. .'leave a message, peace out'. We hear thousands of songs and CDs and it's rare to come across as compelling an album that demands as much time to listen. This is a complete work - with a satisfying and substantial window into Bye's artistry and attitudes. The self-incrimination, surviving self-esteem, and genuine appreciation of life that is woven through all the lyrical lines and music is an artistic time capsule and one that should be opened again and again.