SOMETHING’S NOT WRITE

“STREET LANGUAGE.” Rodney Crowell. Columbia. In recent years, Crowell has written several poignant country-rock tunes, such as “ ‘Til I Gain Control Again,” that have been recorded by dozens of highly respected artists. So you know something’s wrong with his new album when the highlight is the one song that Crowell didn’t write: John Hiatt’s stabbingly funny yet tearful “She Loves the Jerk.” Rockin’ Rodney’s problem these days is that he apparently yearns to follow Glenn Frey and Phil Collins onto “Miami Vice,” and instead of more great country ballads like the ones he’s delivered in the past, we get lackluster, rocked-out narratives (with loads of video appeal) about colorfully named characters like “King Richard” and “Fast Eddie.” Pop music already has more than enough Springsteen clones, but there’s never an excess of truly insightful songwriters. Recommendation: Wait ‘til Rodney gains control again of where his real strengths lie.