Pieces of You
Artist: Jewel
Community Score: 7.80

Jewel's debut album is a charming collection of light alternative folk-rock from the teenage singer/songwriter. Her songs are occasionally naive, but her melodies can usually save her lyrics. ~ Sara Sytsma, All Music Guide Read More

Underground - UK #2
Artist: Ben Folds Five

Fans who love "Underground" will be doubly pleased with this disc, which highlights two songs from the Ben Folds Five LP. The first track is the LP version of "Underground," while track three is a great live version recorded in 1995 at Ziggy's in North Carolina. The live cut really shows off how important having fun is to the band. They are... Read More

Where's Summer B?
Artist: Ben Folds Five

Although it doesn't specify in the packaging, "Where's Summer B?" is actually a version edited from the one found on Ben Folds Five; a few mild obscenities have been removed. The other two tracks were previously unreleased and were recorded live in 1995 at Ziggy's in North Carolina. There are other versions of both "Tom and Mary" and "Emaline"... Read More

Johnny Rivers Rocks the Folk/Meanwhile Back at the Whisky A-Go-Go
Artist: Johnny Rivers

Johnny Rivers' two 1965 albums have been released together in a double-disc package. Though neither Meanwhile Back at the Whisky A Go Go or Rockin' the Folk were commercial disappointments, they weren't the singer's most popular records, either. Rivers' first album was also recorded live at the Whisky, so Meanwhile represents something of a... Read More

This Fire
Artist: Paula Cole
Community Score: 8.39

Paula Cole's songwriting and musical skills sharpened considerably on her second album, This Fire. Occasionally, she flirts a little too closely with Sarah McLachlan territory, but Cole has developed her own, subtly mature style, equally informed by textured electronics, light worldbeat influences, and soul-baring lyrics. "Where Have All the... Read More

Recovering the Satellites
Artist: Counting Crows
Community Score: 7.51

For their second album, Recovering the Satellites, Counting Crows crafted a self-consciously challenging response to their unexpected success. Throughout the record, Adam Duritz contemplates his loss of privacy and sudden change of fortunes, among other angst-ridden subjects. In one sense, it's no different from the subjects that dominated... Read More

Remember
Artist: Rusted Root
Community Score: 8.25

Produced by Jerry Harrison, Rusted Root's second album, Remember, illustrates that the jam band's instrumental skills are continuing to improve, while their songwriting remains stagnant. Half of the record is made up of songs that have strong hooks, while the rest simply function as a showcase for the group's worldbeat explorations and... Read More

Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House
Artist: Crowded House
Community Score: 7.75

Recurring Dream is a 19-track collection which assembles most of the band's singles and adds three new studio tracks to entice fans -- "Not the Girl You Think You Are," "Instinct," and "Everything Is Good for You." As a career summary, the collection works fairly well, though the nonchronological sequencing makes for a slightly confusing listen.... Read More

Bringing Down the Horse
Artist: The Wallflowers
Community Score: 7.45

No sophomore jinx here. Of course, there are only two Wallflowers left from their first release, so this could be called a whole new band. No matter, because the music here is assured and contemporary with just enough of the past showing through to catch one's eye. Jakob Dylan has been polishing his compositional chops and it really shows on... Read More

All I Ever Need: The Kapp/MCA Anthology
Artist: Sonny & Cher

A single CD of the dozen or so key tracks from Sonny & Cher's second era of success (1971-74) on Kapp Records will probably be preferable to all but the biggest fans. What's more, even this set, which starts with the first failed Kapp singles ("Classified 1A," etc.) is missing five cuts available on the Cher greatest hits package, as well as... Read More

Ben Folds Five
Artist: Ben Folds Five
Community Score: 7.83

The debut album from piano-playing Ben Folds' smart-ass trio is a potent, and extremely fun, collection of postmodern rock ditties that comes off as a pleasantly workable combination of Tin Pan Alley showmanship, Todd Rundgren-style power pop, and myriad alt-rock sensibilities. The gimmick here is that not a single guitar was used on the 12... Read More

The Forbidden Songs of the Dying West
Artist: Jackie Leven

Over the years, so many great musical talents have allowed their demons to destroy them. From Charlie Parker to Hank Williams, Sr. to Kurt Cobain, you could write a book about all of the musicians or vocalists who were hell-bent for self-destruction. But there are also many artists who have successfully conquered their demons, and when Scottish... Read More

Hatful of Rain: The Best of Del Amitri - BONUS LIVE CD
Artist: Del Amitri

It's likely that a large portion of the audience Del Amitri won with the lightly infectious, incessantly catchy "Roll to Me" thought of the Scottish group as a new band, not an outfit that had been recording for over a decade. That may be one of the reasons why Hatful of Rain: The Best of Del Amitri was released in 1998, a mere three years after... Read More