Arlo Parks' second album, "My Soft Machine," delves into her new life in Los Angeles but suffers from subdued arrangements that dull its sharp writing. The songs explore desire, joy, and pain, but the music often lacks the intensity to match the lyrical depth. Parks' conversational style loses some of its immediacy in the breezy production. While there are moments of brilliance, such as "Blades," the overall effect is diluted. Deviations from the dreamy sound are hit and miss, and the album's highlights showcase Parks' ability to capture moments of confession and find beauty in the mundane. However, the songs still yearn for that magical touch to fully come alive.