Pictures [CD]

I really liked Katie's first two albums but delayed buying this one for over 6 months because of all the poor reviews.

And, having finally decided "what the heck,I'll see for myself", I was disappointed when I first played it through - despite having low expectations because of the reviews. Then I played it again and it wasn't quite so bad. And then I played it a lot in the car (& had the other albums there for comparison). And it grew and grew and grew on me. And now it is probably my favourite album of hers. My favourite tracks have varied over time, and I probably still feel that the middle is a little weaker. Certainly, some of the lyrics are rather naff (and even irritating) - but 'twas ever so, and also true of other artists. What it doesn't have is anything with the very immediate catchiness of '9m bicycles' or 'Closest Thing to Crazy', but as a whole CD it is no worse for that.

"Pictures" is Katie Melua's third collaboration with songwriter and producer Mike Batt. Some professional critics have pointed to the banality of some of his lyrics: "Douglas Fairbanks, he was so handsome/He wore a moustache/Must-a-had much cash too." But they miss the point. The quirky lyrics are so much part of the charm of this album.

From the playful and punny "Mary Pickford Used To Eat Roses" (about her marriage to Douglas Fairbanks), to the exquisite Batt penned "If You Were A Sailboat" to "In My Secret Life" by the Master of Doom, Leonard Cohen,the twelve hook laden songs explore the themes of love and love and loss with Katie's growing sense of maturity quite evident.

The arrangements include reggae and brass (Ghost Town) and Mexican trumpets (Dirty Dice)which add variety and spice to the string laden arrangements of the other selections. "Scary Movies" continues the playful mood with the immortal couplet "And the vampire's just a joke/'cause I know he's just a bloke". Come on professional critics, loosen up!

But ultimately it's Katie's voice, variously vulnerable, wistful, smoky, joyful and mournful, as in "What I Miss About You" that makes this album work. Although only 23, Katie Melua makes music for adults. If you liked her first two albums, you'll love this.

If you expected this album to build on the two previous albums and to be a showcase of catchy lyrics given the classic Melua treatment, you may be slightly disappointed.

This Katie Melua album does not quite do what it says on the tin. Nevertheless, a Katie Melua album it still is, and a worthy addition to any Melua collection.

Melua is a rare artist who has given us songs that are not just sung, but emoted: songs sold on a mix of naivety, innocence, loss or hope, that give her interpretation an integrity that is lacking in other contemporary performers.

But here, there is no haunting wails of pain that made the Melua penned Piece by Piece title track such a vocal masterpiece. There is none of the vulnerability as performed in Mike Batt's Closest Thing to Crazy and nothing as pure as Thank You Stars.

This is not an album that has the sentimentality of the previous albums that had the ability to make grown men cry. Yes, all artists must evolve, but let's not forget that emotional connection in Crazy that is the essense of what made Melua a star. Why leave that magic behind?

Standout tracks obviously include the hit single If You Were a Sailboat, with jarring lyrics such as: "If you were a piece of wood, I`d nail you to the floor." It is worth seeing the video (not included on the album) to watch out for the appearance of an animated owl providing an unexpected comic effect.

It does get better than that, but apart from the georgous vocals of What I Miss about You there is little evidence that Melua has stretched herself vocally to ever surprise her audience as she has done before, but that is not to say that her performance on this album is poor. Far from it, her voice has matured and is more assured.

Spellbound, the only song entirely written by Melua is one of the most promising, along with It's All in My Head: well structured songs that may get stuck in your head.

If the Lights go Out is probably the most mainstream and commercial sounding upbeat pop song Melua has recorded, even though it talks about the end of the world! It is still a love song; she'll go down with you if the lights go out, but its real charm is that her voice has never been as cute.

Mary Pickford is a tribute to the actors who formed United Artists, a very pleasing Batt composition that really works, but for the spoken asides to squeeze in extra rhymes that spoil Melua`s silky vocals.

What it Says on the Tin is a slow song that has the soft jazzy feel of the Call Off The Search title track.

Moving further away from the roots of her previous work, some other tracks may feel like B sides that do not do Melua`s voice justice, often with irritating percussion and failing to ever take off, hanging around in the lower registers for too long. Dirty Dice is given a Latin arrangement, Ghost Town, a Reggae vibe, perhaps to add interest to the blandness. The moving thing about Scary Films is likely to be the skip button.

Melua's past success has been achieved without the backing of a major label. Her fan base has derived from the allure of her unique emotionally charged voice and a slightly quirky anaemic jazz and blues that is not available elsewhere. But her voice is the hook and with the right material she could sell millions without a single note of backing music.

Unfortunately, however deeply her audience may have fallen in love with her voice, that does not compensate for some of the weaker material and it is hard to imagine how this album can repeat the success of the first two albums. If this had been the first album, it seems unlikely Katie Melua would now be a household name.

Pictures often sounds like a waste of one of the most sensational artists of the century. Melua`s voice is not fully exploited and does not have the chance to make the same emotional connection as it has before. This feels like an album designed to be more vocally safe than adventurous. But not everyone wants or expects to be blown away with a new album. My own expectations were perhaps too high, based on what has come before.

Even so, I must recommend Pictures, because there is a varied mix of tracks here and despite its flaws, if you enjoyed Call Off the Search or Piece by Piece, there will likely be something here you will appreciate.

Here is a collection of smooth soothing music to escape from the busy world. Here is the ideal antidote to scantily clad manufactured pop and coke-head divas.

Pour yourself a drink and chill out to Mellow Melua and let all your troubles melt away. That part of the magic is still there. You will not find another album released this year like this one.

This is still Katie Melua. Five Stars.