In Brief

The former Belly, Breeders and Throwing Muses singer-guitarist kicks off her aptly named solo debut with a lush jangle of pop aggression called “Pretty Deep.” Except for the college-radio-perfect lullaby “Mysteries of the Unexplained,” Donelly’s initially alluring lyrics disappoint on closer inspection. Musically, the punky parts lack the required punch and the sweet jags eventually turn saccharine.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).

*

Hear the Music

* Excerpts from these albums and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: https://www.latimes.com/soundclips