Vanessa Carlton Harmonium Lyrics

Sophomore albums are dicey affairs. With an early fork in the road before them, fresh-faced artists find themselves with a choice of either repeating the formula that worked before or venturing out in uncharted territory. Vanessa Carlton opts to test her range with her ambitious, admirable, but not always successful follow up to 2002's Be Not Nobody. Collaborating with boyfriend Stephan Jenkins (the Third Eye Blind frontman produced the album and helps out as a writer and musician), Carlton explores new themes and sonic textures throughout the 10-song outing, scoring impressively with the likes of "White Houses" (featuring Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham) and the assured, driving "Private Radio." The naiveté of "San Francisco" is ultimately winning ("Talking in the Mission over coffee/ This is my utopia" she gushes, though the line about "Steinbeck and those old men whistling" is a headscratcher). Still, the elegant arrangements and Carlton's insistent piano lines can't quite cover up a lack of truly memorable melodies. Yes, Carlton is maturing and Harmonium brings her closer to where she's going, but she's still got a ways to go. --Steven Stolder