Minnie Driver

Yes, the whole thing is kind of strange. And no, she’s not following in the footsteps of J-Lo or any other movie star-turned-recording artist. Although Minnie Driver is probably the last person you’d expect to put out a folk rock album, let alone collaborate with artists like Ryan Adams or Liz Phair, you’ve got to admit her musical talents are impressive. Seastories is very fluid, delicate and light; the instrumentals are simple, yet intricately woven to keep your ears guessing at where the melodies are going to go next. Driver’s vocals are beautiful, carrying a sense of maturity and wisdom, but it’s because of this ripened aura that much of the album falls flat with the younger generation. "Stars & Satellites” (featuring Adams’ band the Cardinals) and "Sorry Baby” (featuring the backing vocals of Liz Phair) could easily fit into the adult contemporary pop category. "King Without A Queen” cries with country timelessness and "Mary” relies on simplicity. Perhaps parents will find solace in Driver’s Seastories but the kids? They’ll probably pass it over.