Claire Holly

Crossing Sheryl Crowe during the time between 1996 and 1998 when she seemed at least somewhat interested in making good music and an all audience approved version of Liz Phair, on Dandelion, Claire Holly delivers a mixed collection of songs. The problems on the disc come in the moments when Holly lets her songs drift into the horribly over-occupied Birkenstocks, granola and nature hikes territory of the singer/songwriter realm. Her best moments come when she lets the songs guide themselves. This is best exemplified on "Henry’s,” a song that lacks a hook, but is interesting enough to be the better for it. So while Holly’s laidback alt-country never really reaches Lucinda Williams heights, it is a pleasant disc that promises more from the artist.