Poor little Lisa. One mega hit and she's forever lambasted by critics leery of her contrived good looks and wordy sentimentality. Lisa's dilemma is down to demographics. Too innocent for Ani Difranco's crowd, too smart for the Jewel sorority, and too soft for Alanis, Tori and Courtney, who can quickly kick her ass. So this budding sex kitten (what's with this album cover?) has followed her own path to glossy folk-pop sincerity. You might even say she's a rebel, seemingly unafraid of coming off cute and cuddly in the land of husky alterna-babes and devout Joni wannabes.
Firecracker is an ambitious record full of plush arrangements, well-crafted tunes and sharply honed lyrics. Sure, some of her songs remind you of gooey fudge brownies ("Truthfully," "Furious Rose"), but Lisa's sweet, pure voice and detailed stories also make for a handful of solid winners. "I Do" is a sunny, effervescent blast and "Falling In Love" (with a gorgeous string section) is moving and intimate, while Court and Spark is masterfully recalled on "Dance With The Angels," a sophisticated, sleek, dreamy song that is irresistible. Overflowing tablas and vibraphones leave LoebΓÇÖs little-girl-lost bit behind, spinning a dusky melody under sailing harmonies. If Lisa Loeb can write more songs like this, she'll be able to light firecrackers as they protrude from the critic's mouths.
