Feminine wiles

With the seeming onslaught of female recording stars all reaching for superstardom, it takes a wily marketing and promoting plan to make that desired mark in the industry. Whether a newcomer, as is the case with Australian Lenka, or someone who’s pushing her third studio R&B album, like Ciara, it’s far too easy to get lost in the mix, and be ignored. Certified songwriters and taking a hand in the production chores, allow these two artists to take some measure of control of the music and direction their respective careers are taking, and their new CDs are two distinct examples of individual musical vision and execution.

Lenka — Lenka (Epic/SonyBMG). Originally an Australian actress who trained under Cate Blanchett, Lenka Kripac, is one of those artists whose songs have been picked by currently hot TV series, and has “made hay” from the exposure. Like The Fray, it’s the TV hit Grey’s Anatomy that used Lenka’s Trouble Is a Friend; and the show 90210 has We Will Not Grow Old on its soundtrack. Thanks to her ebullient video for The Show, there’s a lot of pop buzz circling around this singer/songwriter. Upbeat and refreshing, Lenka creates pure, unadulterated pop songs that have immediate accessibility and sing-along qualities. It’s Lily Allen without the angst, Dido minus the brooding, a cheerful Adele, and a guileless Katy Perry. These impressions flashed through my mind as I listened to this debut CD. I especially liked the tracks Knock Knock and Dangerous and Sweet.

Fantasy Ride — Ciara (SonyBMG). Austin, Texas native Ciara wings in with her third studio album, a project which she hopes will firmly establish her as a song-and-dance maven with R&B, hip-hop roots. There’s a much stronger element of pop in this CD and it augurs well for how the public will take notice of her music. The number of guest stars in the CD also makes for good hype: Justin Timberlake on the excellent Love Sex Magic, Ludacris and Chris Brown on rather tepid collaborations. And on the steamy slow burn numbers Never Ever and Lover’s Thing, she “does it” with Young Jeezy and The Dream, respectively. Missy Elliot pops up in the energized Work and in Tell Me What Your Name Is, I had to smile as the lyrics spoke of some club Lothario trying to pick her up and offering a “First Class ride to the Philippines.” Solid dance tunes and well-produced ballads make for a very strong package in this music genre.