Strong As Diamonds (Om Vajra Kaya Namaha)

For Strong as Diamonds, Wade Imre Morissette and collaborator Mike Southworth have stepped up the production and paid more attention to pop song structures, as if to say there is very little difference between the meditative "yoga epics" of Morissette's first album and your typical pop single. They may even have scored a potential crossover hit with the hooky "Shine On." But with the addition of programming and a host of other exotic instruments, Morissette brings listeners the next level of yoga music. And, as was the case with his indie debut, Morissette delivers a great album that also happens to function in the yoga genre. The songs are fuller and sharper, and the playing is tighter. But the consistent meditative quality that marked Morissette's debut has not suffered any for it. These are just some great meditative pop songs, that's all, complete with singsongy lyrics ("Shine On") and sublime interludes of which his sister Alanis would be proud ("Calling"). For the second time, Morissette has delivered a pleasure of a listen that also happens to have spiritual overtones — which can make the experience all the more moving, given the right listening circumstances. A very distinguished major-label debut.