Melanie

On Leftover Wine, the live album preceding this one by only three years, Melanie sounded optimistic and outgoing. Here, she sounds like an artist on the verge of a nervous breakdown, battling chronic fatigue syndrome to boot. Over four sides, she struggles through her back catalog and, judging by the performance, does so reluctantly. There's nothing wrong with the selections -- "Ring the Living Bell," "Beautiful People," "Psychotherapy" -- all her fans' favorites are here. It's just the ill-concealed tedium with which she trawls through them, accompanied only by her own acoustic guitar, that spoils the set. Even her between-song patter is testy and almost scornful. She lights up briefly with "Baby Guitar" and also delivers a quick lighthearted rant about pollution in New York. The rest of the time, though, it's clear her heart's not in it. ~ Charles Donovan, All Music Guide