REVIEW: Annie Lennox, Medusa (Arista)

- Jon Steltenpohl

The title is the only thing ugly about Annie Lennox's new album. Medusa finds Lennox's voice as beautiful and stunning as it was when she was a Tourist, a Eurythmic, or even a Diva. To fans of Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics, this should come as no surprise. When Annie and Dave got it right, the result was pure magic, and Diva proved that Annie Lennox could have that same magic without the help of Dave Stewart.

Although an album of covers, Medusa shares the magic of Lennox's past work. Stephen Lipson returns as collaborator and producer, and, like Diva, the sound is based on keyboards and synthesizers with guitars, flute, orchestra, and percussion added. Chimed arpeggios float up and down the soundscape, and a subtle beat runs in the background. Lennox's voice is sampled and layered over and over again like a chorus of angels.

"No More 'I Love You's'" begins Medusa. The lyrics are bittersweet, and the mood goes from mellow to intense and then eases off at the end. She makes this a classic Annie Lennox song. Not only are the vocals filled with passion, but underneath the lyrics and the notes, you can feel Lennox experiencing the actual emotions. It's one of those traits that elevates Lennox to a level that few artists ever reach. Like Freddie Mercury and Janis Joplin before her, Lennox lives every note of every song.

"Downtown Lights" recalls both the feel of Diva and the best of the Eurythmics. It starts out with a steady beat and a calm, synthesized background. Lennox enters with a powerful whisper and, then, at certain times, the song backs off and focuses on the sparse, pulsed harmony that was the trademark of the Eurythmics albums of the mid-80's. That sound was missing from Diva, but Lennox has returned to it for parts of Medusa. Medusa closes with the Paul Simon song, "Something So Right." It is a self-conscious confession of one lover to another, and it's a quiet lullaby that you fall in love with instantly. Although it may never have been a big hit, "Something So Right" is one of those songs that people cherish long after the big hits seem old.

Thankfully, Medusa isn't a typical cover collection that's dominated by worn-out hits. Annie Lennox has such a distinctive flair that Medusa might as well be an original album. Like her previous work, fragility and strength are balanced equally throughout Medusa. It is an amazing feat that Lennox pulls off again and again. Medusa is one of Annie Lennox's most engaging and consistent albums.