In Brief
** Maria McKee, “Life Is Sweet,” Geffen. A truly gifted singer when belting country- or gospel-rooted songs, the former Lone Justice focal point veers off for her third solo album into PJ Harvey-like alternative styles for which she has no particular affinity. Given McKee’s failure to connect with a significant audience in the past, the shift is understandable. But even while she sounds sincere, she also sounds completely lost.
*
New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).
* TimesLine 808-8463
To hear excerpts from the albums reviewed, call TimesLine and press * and the artist’s corresponding four-digit code.
Maria McKee *5725
In 805 area code, call (818) 808-8463.
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