*** Tara MacLean

PASSENGER

(Nettwerk/Capitol)

It must be so annoying to be compared to another artist, particularly one who may be more acclaimed but -- you are convinced -- is no more talented. So we can sympathize with Tara MacLean if she's dubbed the new Jewel. Her second album is a richer, less folky (way less folky), more varied release than Jewel has yet to put voice to. You'll hear the comparison stick in the album's more singer-songwriterly moments, like "Jordan" and "Higher," the latter hymnal-styled but blurring the line between religious and romantic passion. Mostly, though, MacLean journeys through atmospheric pop like opener "Jericho," an uneasy song whose forceful drumming is twinned with her sweet plangent voice. Indeed, there isn't a song here that doesn't have instrumental twists. Whether that's the work of a keen producer or MacLean's devising is hard to say, but with such off-the-wall pitchings as the percussive voodoo dance of the disc's hidden track, Passenger is a vocalist's album rather than a folky singer/songwriter's. And there's absolutely no yodeling.

-- Linda Laban