If you’re ever looking for a fortifying burst of Bacharachian splendor, you could do far worse than the first three tracks of Sarah Shannon’s self-titled debut. The former Velocity Girl singer obviously knew the importance of making a good first impression, especially in light of the new, very un-Velocity-Girl material she’d put together. And so, to win over as many critics and fans as possible, she front-loaded her first album with the best songs of the bunch—or at least, that’s how it all sounds in my head.

While the rest of Shannon’s first album has its share of delights, there’s nothing like the invigorating horn fanfare that opens “Down,” which itself leads quickly into the glorious AM radio should’ve-been-a-hit “I’ll Run Away.” Follow the suite up with the charming “Call You On the Telephone” and you’ve basically got the start to a lovely retro summer morning. The beginning of Shannon’s first album leaves such a good impression, in fact, that it’s almost a shame to hear the far less enthralling opening to her latest album, released earlier this year; though “City Morning Star” and “Along the Way” are pleasant enough songs, they both completely miss out on the dynamics and atmosphere that make “Down” and “I’ll Run Away” so great.