NICOLE RENEE

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

She sings of God, cocaine, phone sex, unemployment and, of course, love. Renee's songs may have varied subjects (she wrote or co-wrote every song on the album), but they invariably share one thing: a sharp melodic hook. The listener, once caught, is reeled in quickly. Renee has a nasal, adventurous soprano that stands out in contrast to the mellow, unobtrusive croons of many of today's best-selling R.-and-B. vocalists. She's a new voice that's hard to forget.

--C.J.F.