Stars Learn To Sing Like Me might've been a more accurate title for the latest solo album by this 40-year-0ld mother of four, whose mid-80's power trio, Throwing Muses, laid the groundwork for subsequent women-in-rock heavyweights like Polly Jean Harvey and Sinead O'Connor. Dialing down the fury of her newish neo-grunge act 50FootWave, Hersh reconnects with her arty folk-rock roots, as if trying to demonstrate her individualistic chutzpah. It won't satisfy hook-hungry Jewel fans, but Learn to Sing wears Hersh's experience like a custom-tailored hair shirt.

-Mikael Wood