Suzanne Vega

Non-fans probably know Suzanne Vega best for the dance version of the song "Tom's Diner." Although that song is undeniably catchy, it doesn't even scratch the surface of what Vega is musically capable of.\nThankfully, Songs in Red and Gray, Vega's first album since 1996, does scratch that surface. The album is far more introspective than "Tom's Diner," which was basically a story set to music. On the new CD, Vega sings about heartbreak, anger and longing, much of which probably stems from a shake-up in her personal life -- she recently broke up with husband Mitchell Froom, who also produced two of her previous albums.\nThe most interesting thing about the album is that while each of the songs have similar acoustic guitar melodies as a foundation for the music, all of the tracks sound very different. Throughout the album, you will hear the guitar and swear the CD player accidentally was skipping. But this feeling is quickly dispelled when you pay attention to the lyrics.\nVega covers the feelings surrounding a break-up with a series of creative metaphors. In "Songs in Red and Gray," Vega wonders about how the conflict with her husband is affecting her daughter, while also questioning "Did I break the thread or did you break the thread?" "Soap and Water" finds Vega asking to "hang my heart on the line/scour it down in a wind of sand." \nLuckily the whole album isn't tragedy and despair. "Last Year's Troubles" an infinitely happier song than most of the CD, celebrates the fact that most of this discord has been left behind. \nSongs in Red and Gray isn't particularly uplifting. It's also not the best CD to play if you don't plan on actually listening to the words, considering the lyrics are the strong suit. But if you've got the free time, listening to the story of Vega's break-up is an hour or so well spent.