Rating: NNN
On her self-titled solo debut, Molly Johnson leaves her Queen West roots way behind. The album of slickly produced slinky jazz tunes sometimes sounds a little too Adult Contemporary — but, thankfully, Johnson hasn’t gone Diana Krall on us. Her smoky voice shimmers like quicksilver through tinkly piano torch songs and sizzles on sexy R&B-tinged tracks. Highlights include the bluesy One Hundred Cigarettes — a lurching bass-driven track by Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson — and a quietly powerful cover of Billie Holiday’s Don’t Explain that’s just plain lovely. Music to make love by. SARAH LISS
