Tracy Bonham: Down Here

Herald rating: ***

(Island)

Review: Russell Baillie

One of the many feisty female acts who arrived with a well-received but less than world-igniting debut album in the wake of Alanis, Bonham hasn't softened her prickly, quirky approach on her sophomore effort. With the production team of Tchad Blake and Mitchell Froom giving proceedings a wiry energy throughout, Down Here swings from powerchord rockers (the Garbage-ish Fake It, the Sheryl Crow Every Good Man) to angular claustrophobic artpop (You Can't Always Not Get What You Don't Want) to plaintive ballads (the shades-of-Chrissie Hynde Second Wind). Trouble is perhaps, that for all Bonham's musical craftiness (and her violin-playing which saws through a few tracks) and attitude, she's not that memorable, especially melodically. But fans of the slightly alt singer-songwriter squad should find plenty that appeals.