Jill Sobule - Jill Sobule (1995)

Jill Sobule's self-titled second album became a minor hit thanks to the single "I Kissed a Girl," a cute, cloying folk-pop novelty number about a brief lesbian encounter. It has all the trappings of a one-off novelty, but it isn't -- that's Sobule's approach. She has kept the isolated and self-serving attitude of the folk circuit and added a melody that is catchy enough for pop radio, as well as a taboo subject that can be joked about without offending too many listeners; it also didn't hurt that the video was drenched with post-modern irony, including an appearance by male model Fabio. The majority of Sobule's album follows the same pattern, as she sings about porn stars and other topics that are ripe for a little smug teasing. Nothing is quite as ingratiating as "I Kissed a Girl," yet everything is pleasant and well-mannered -- for all of her attempts, Sobule never cuts any deeper than the surface.~© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo