A Vibrant Vega Never Sounded Better

*** 1/2

SUZANNE VEGA

“Nine Objects of Desire”

A&M;

Maybe it has something to do with her falling in love and becoming a mom over the past few years, but Vega has never sounded warmer, wiser or sexier than she does on this album. Certainly, her musical partnership with husband-producer Mitchell Froom--whom Vega married after they worked together on her last LP, 1992’s “99.9 F”--has been a factor in her growth. While Vega has always had a flair for graceful melodies and intelligent lyrics, her early work could seem a little fragile and studied in its folky starkness. With its brash, techno-savvy arrangements, “99.9 F” was a sonic blast of fresh air. On “Nine Objects,” Vega and Froom retain that quirky, adventurous spirit while opting for softer textures that enhance the vibrant sensuality of her new songs.

Though the overall flavor of these tracks is decidedly post-modern, they’re also steeped in musical tradition. “Caramel” has a bossa nova feel, with lilting flutes and muted trumpets adding nuance. “Stockings,” a witty reflection on the frustrating art of flirtation, is also exotic and rhythmically compelling, with a Middle Eastern string arrangement dancing coyly around the chorus. Elsewhere, as on the gently radiant ballad “World Before Columbus,” the singer digs deeper into her folk roots, but her delivery seems newly ripe and passionate. “I wait to meet my love made real,” she sings on the thumping “Birthday.” But, in fact, Vega sounds less like a lady in waiting than a woman in all her glory.

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