King of Yesterday
Jude Christodal could be one of those movie boys who write and record songs for the objects of their crushes or romantic losses. This follow-up to his 1998 debut onMadonna's Maverick label,No One Is Really Beautiful, finds Jude placing his sweet sentiments in a finely crafted California-pop sound whose carefree edge makes it easy to believe the CD booklet's claim that it was all recorded in two weeks. Unaffected enough to coverBread's heartbroken "Everything I Own," he also makes his originals resonate for those passed high school--even when extolling the benefits of a "Teenage Girlfriend" ("met her at the mall") or the charms of a "Not So Pretty Princess." By turns pained and joyful, but never puppyish,King of Yesterdayopens a unique singer-songwriter's window on innocence and experience.--Rickey Wright