*** Chocolate Genius

BLACK MUSIC

(V2)

Marc Anthony Thompson, the singer/songwriter behind Chocolate Genius, is the closest thing to an African-American Mark Eitzel this country has so far produced. Smoky, ragged-edged vocals, somber, downbeat melodies, intense, self-lacerating lyrics dealing with alcoholism and other illnesses -- Thompson does it all on Black Music. For further edification, just catch a few of the song titles -- "A Cheap Excuse," "Stupid Again" -- and note how "Hangover Five" is immediately followed by "Hangover Nine."

What Thompson has over Eitzel is a greater sense of stylistic contrast. On the first three tracks alone, the mood shifts from acoustic Beatlesque pop with dotty Mellotron backing ("Life") to organ-driven mid-tempo Tom Petty-ish rock ("Half a Man") to slow smoldering soul worthy of Isaac Hayes ("Don't Look Down"). The cause is aided by stellar sidemen, including guitarists David Torn and Marc Ribot, bassist Melvin Gibbs, and keyboardist John Medeski. It all adds up to an outstanding 11-song collection. But be warned: "My Mom," about a visit to an Alzheimer's-afflicted parent, may be the most heartbreaking song you'll hear this year.

-- Mac Randall