In Brief
*** 1/2 Jonathan Richman, “I’m So Confused,” Vapor. Nobody but this veteran singer-songwriter could have provided the blend of absurdity and poignancy that gave “There’s Something About Mary” its surreal sweetness. Featuring the movie’s heart-wrenching, gut-busting “True Love Is Not Nice,” Richman--that film’s strolling troubadour--offers a spare, folk-pop collection that’s similarly preoccupied with the ups and (mostly) downs of romance. One exception, “Nineteen in Naples,” offers a wry, rollicking view of American naivete abroad.
*
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 and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: https://www.latimes.com/soundclips
Sign up for The Wild
We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
