Macy Gray

The endearingly kooky Macy Gray burst into our lives with this delicious, delirious funk-fest. "I Try" got the most attention, but the whole album feels strong and confident, thanks to Gray's spunky singing and attitude. "Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak" could turn even the plainest Jane into one -- such is the power of Macy.

Too often forced to conform to angel-whore formula, African-American sisters rarely have
the chance to get individually freaky on the mike. But if Erykah and Missy can break the
rules of radio R&B, then Macy Gray -- the latest protoge of Wallflowers and Fiona Apple
producer Andrew Slater -- might be able to do the same for VH1 rock. With an
attention-getting croon somewhere between Billie Holiday's wounded cry and B... More >

If only Esther Phillips had written her own songs, she would have sung worse ones ("I've Committed Murder," "Caligula"). (Grade - **)