In Brief
Melanie C, “Northern Star,” Virgin. On her solo debut (due Tuesday), the artist better known as Sporty Spice tones down the Spice Girl-y sweetness while keeping the vibe upbeat and showcasing her vocal capabilities. Reflecting her fondness for rock and indie bands, the collection ranges from ‘60s-esque pop to techno-balladry to Garbage-style crunch. But unlike Spice dropout Geri Halliwell’s recent solo effort, these different facets manage to convey a coherent personality.
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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.
Hear the Music
* Excerpts from recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: http://ukobiw.net./soundclips
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