Phases & Stages

Annie Lennox

With her explosively satisfying fourth solo album, Annie Lennox delivers her best recording since her Eurythmics' heyday, eclipsing even 2003's marvelous Bare. With all the punch of Eighties hits "Would I Lie to You?" "Missionary Man," and "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" comes the equally wonderful "Womankind," "Through the Glass Darkly," and "Ghosts in My Machine," as do the haunting ballads "Lost" and "Dark Road." As the title suggests, the Scot diva is all social conscience, salute-worthy for the powerful all-star chorus of "Sing" to promote HIV/AIDS awareness. What one really wants from Annie Lennox is throb, the heart-pounding sex-pulse reminder that love love love is a dangerous drug, and she delivers in a dreamy rainbow of dance beats on "Coloured Bedspread." When her deep velvety alto sings "you make the stars dissolve like sugar melting in my mouth," it's as divinely ethereal as anything she ever did with the Eurythmics.