Nolita

Although Keren Ann\'s global melting-pot makeup may be confounding--she\'s a daughter of Javanese-Dutch and Russian-Israeli parents who lives in Paris and New York--her music is anything but. To the contrary, her jazzy, mostly acoustic pop is warm and familiar from the first note. Her second album to gain release in the U.S. and fourth album overall, *Nolita* is a hushed collection of late-afternoon lullabies sung alternately in English and French. In either language her voice is an airy wisp that glides over deceptively simple arrangements. Her songs unfold unhurriedly, weaving together deft guitar lines, swirling keys, rustic touches of violin, and occasional bits of brass. *Nolita*\'s high points are perhaps not as high as those of its predecessor, Keren Ann\'s memorable American debut *Not Going Anywhere*, but the total effect of *Nolita* is a sweet and becalming one.

Second album of wispy indie pop from the multilingual singer.

Discover Nolita by Keren Ann released in 2004. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.

Here's the good news: the casual music listener -- those who own Norah Jones, Michael McDonald, and one of the Rod Stewart Songbook collections -- will...