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Tara MacLean - Passenger

Three and a half stars

Tara MacLean may be recognized from the Lilith Fair's ancillary stage, on which she performed for three years.

Her second album, Passenger, gave MacLean an outlet to express the confidence and experience she gained observing and playing with her fellow musicians at the Lilith Fair.

This Canadian-born singer/songwriter's first single off of Passenger was featured on the "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" soundtrack. "If I Fall" has already captured the attention of the radio public throughout Canada and the United States.

MacLean has been compared to the likes of Aimee Mann, Jewel and Canadian chanteuse Chantal Kreviazuk. This album combines MacLean's emotional vocals and intriguing melodies to bring a unique coherency to her music.

The first track, "Jericho," features MacLean on piano and vocals and is a perfect introduction to the rest of the album. Some of the later tracks incorporate violin, mandolin, cello and Bansuri Bamboo Flutes to name a few, giving Passenger a versatile and full sound. The theme of Passenger is derived from a Pablo Neruda poem titled "Delia Del Carril," which touches on the evolution of time, of how "everything goes on."

The track "La Tempete" is sung entirely in French and embraces the feel of the entire album, with soft, delicate instrumentals and vocals, yet crisp and passionate.

MacLean's draw for this genre of music is the vulnerability her lyrics bring, without sounding too na•ve or inexperienced. Passenger is a powerful follow-up to her 1997 indie release, Silence.

MacLean's relentless work opening for such numbers as Paula Cole, Barenaked Ladies