Jill Sobule Takes Bold Step With ‘Happy Town’

Jill Sobule

“Happy Town” (Atlantic)

Few artistic voices are as lucid, inspired and endowed with grace and humor as Jill Sobule’s. On her third and most sophisticated outing, the singer/songwriter dances between stinging irony (“Bitter,” “Happy Town”), rare sensitivity (“Clever” and the Steve Earle collaboration “Love Is Never Equal”), and an uncanny instinct for articulating the emotional poignancy of childhood (“Super 8,” “Underachiever”). Like Sobule’s offbeat breakthrough hit, “I Kissed A Girl,” the material here is suited for modern rock, triple-A, college and pop airplay. Beyond its commercial possibilities, the album is a bold step forward for a creatively expansive artist.

Chris Whitley

“Terra Incognita” (Work/Sony)

Brimming with High Plains ambience, Chris Whitley’s debut, “Living With The Law,” won a host of admirers for its lyrical refraction of itinerant blues tradition. The singer/guitarist’s sophomore set, “Din of Ecstasy,” confounded some fans as it amped up and distorted his blues with a squalling power-trio sound that had as much in common with downtown as down home. But that fusion of Jimi Hendrix and Howling Wolf, Sonic Youth and Son House, was a vital leap into more personal, expressive territory. On “Terra Incognita,” Whitley continues to mine this raw vein with an added dose of laconic melody. “Power Down” and “Weightless” are just two highlights on a smart, soulful album.

Jon Secada

“Secada” (EMI)

The Cuban-born singer/songwriter/ producer’s first album in three years stands as a strong contender to renew interest in his broad global base of fans, while picking up some warm bodies along the way. The project bodes close kinship with his triple-platinum, self-titled 1992 debut, bringing to the helm a majority of tear-stained ballads and a handful of pulsing, midtempo pop nuggets in the vein of debut smash “Just Another Day.” The top 40 response to the first single, “Too Late, Too Soon,” remains uncertain, but there are enough goodies here to get you through many a warm summer day. Don’t miss the chug-along “Believe,” “I Live for You,” and “Forever (as Long as It Lasts).” Vocally, Secada ranks as a male equivalent to Celine Dion - it would be nice for radio to offer him a chance to be heard. Look for EMI to release a Spanish-language version of the album within a couple of months.

Tanya Tucker

“Complicated” (Capitol)

Tanya Tucker’s 30th album in a storied 25-year career is her best outing in some time. Her one-of-a-kind voice is well displayed by Gregg Brown’s understated production, and Tucker - while not a songwriter - is a savvy song picker and has plenty of good material to work with, from the likes of Harlan Howard, Kostas, Al Anderson, Troy Seals, Bill LaBounty and Amanda Hunt Taylor. Her natural instinct to belt it out has been reined in on this tempered collection of ballads and belters. It’s hard to believe her current single, “Little Things,” is her 58th to hit the country singles chart. Not bad for a 38-year-old.