Jennifer Hanson
With her model-pretty looks and her bona fide pedigree (father Larry played guitar forAlabama, husband Mark Nesler is a Nashville songwriter), Jennifer Hanson is expected to go the distance in the new female category. Her first single, "Beautiful Goodbye," made inroads, largely for its organic pop production, faux R&B; riffs, and jangly electric guitars. Yet like much of the album, the song lacks the kind of muscle to sustain much interest. Hanson, who coproduced this debut and cowrote all but two songs, does best when she has a story to tell--instead of just musing on the variations of love. "Travis," which finds the singer wondering about the fate of a childhood friend routinely beaten by his father, carries the ring of truth. And "Half a Heart Tattoo," an infectious boogie about a telltale mark and the tracing of a cad, can't help but raise a smile, even if the plot twist becomes patently obvious. Hanson slightly resemblesRosanne Cashin vocal tone, but don't expect the cerebral Cash's introspective, urban cool. This is a radio act, pure and simple.--Alanna Nash