In Flight

Linda Perry's music is both subtle and bombastic, sweet and aggressive, and intellectually and sonically challenging. After the singer/songwriter quit her job fronting mega-platinum rock outfit 4 Non Blondes in 1994, Perry spent some time underground and eventually recorded In Flight for Interscope Records. Producer Bill Botrell (Sheryl Crow, Susanna Hoffs) helps Perry on the 1996 release as she digs deep into very personal subject matter that could get overwrought without the softly detailed arrangements and mixes. The queen of '90s ultra-depressive mope rock, Lisa Germano deepens the disc's dour construct with her mournful violin. There are a couple overly personal moments on the In Flight play list, like the opener "In My Dreams," but Perry leans on her expressive vocals to keep the dangerously sincere material interesting. "Success" borders on the excessively self-analytical, but Botrell's juicy production and a crushing hook elevate the track beyond its weepy predisposition. Other standouts include "Life in a bottle," "In Flight," and the Grace Slick duet "Knock Me Out" that features the legendary Starship vocalist in extremely rare form. A fondness for fellow '90s female mood rockers Germano and PJ Harvey will aid listeners in appreciating the sallow cast of In Flight. But with just a little patience, any fan can enjoy the tenderness that coats Perry's introspective material. [The enhanced version includes bonus CD-ROM features.]