HOLLY’S CROSSOVER : * * * * <i> Great Balls of Fire</i> * * * <i> Good Vibrations</i> * * <i> Maybe Baby</i> * <i> Running on Empty : </i>

* * “DON’T HOLD BACK.” Holly Near. Redwood. From its high-gloss cover photo to the glimmering, shimmering production to the guest vocals by Bonnie Raitt and Kenny Loggins, the latest album by this resolute feminist-activist has crossover written all over it. The title notwithstanding, “hold back” is exactly what Near has done in attempting reach a broader audience. Near has a fetching voice that can be feathery on ballads and sinewy on rockers, but in place of her overtly political material she’s opted for a batch of routine pop love songs. The only hint of any real-world awareness is the battleground backdrop of “In the Face of Love.” Not that every performer--even a one as politically active as Near--need always sing about topical issues. “Plain and Simple Love” ranks as one of her best efforts precisely because of its uncluttered emotional honesty. But the strongest message of this record is what’s left unsaid: To appeal to the masses, check your politics at the studio door.