Suzanne Vega - Beauty & Crime
Reviewed by billwhite
In these times of rising illiteracy, it's reassuring to hear a singer-songwriter name-checking Edith Wharton. Such literary allusions do not, however, ensure a great album, and “Edith Wharton’s Figurines” can't save Suzanne Vega’s drowning career. At just over 30 minutes, Beauty & Crime finds the once-inspired songstress turning in a short stack of adequately mixed but undercooked song pancakes. They vary from the desperately commercial “Frank and Ava” and embarrassingly cute “New York is a Woman” to the confidently adult “”Zephyr & I” and somewhat snooty but still insightful “Pornographer’s Dream.” The production shows much improvement, but there is not a song among these 11 than can touch early gems such as “Marlene on the Wall” and “Luka.” [www.suzannevega.com]