They say the third album is always the serious one and Winnipeg piano chanteuse Chantal Kreviazuk�s latest qualifies on a surface listen. But then the catchy melodies and sunny hooks kick in and you can almost hear the solemn singer-songwriter crack a smile. Kreviazuk�s elastic, expansive voice is an acquired taste, but she lets it soar here over polished piano-based pop. Kreviazuk writes great songs � the kind of stick-in-your-head gems that you swear you�ve heard before. But she tends to bury the songs under layers of production where a lighter approach would have worked better. First single, "In This Life," is trademark Kreviazuk, all heart-on-sleeve lyrics and big choruses, while "Ready For Your Love," a trite collaboration with ubiquitous uber-producers Track & Field (ex-Philosopher Kings), is the only real misstep here. It�s interesting that current It Girl Michelle Branch turns up on backup vocals on "Waiting" � Kreviazuk could teach her and Vanessa Carlton a thing or two about writing a pop song that�s more than just an ear-candy blip on the radio dial.

Tabassum Siddiqui