**1/2 Eleanor McEvoy

WHAT'S FOLLOWING ME?

(Columbia)

Harps, harpsichords, and strings complement the standard guitar-keyboard-bass-drum line-up on Eleanor McEvoy's sophomore CD, as the classically trained Dublin-born singer/songwriter alternates moody, melodic ballads and rockers. A triple instrumental threat on guitars, keyboards, and violin, McEvoy also produced these dozen tracks with Kevin Moloney. They range from the giddy pop rock of "A Glass Unkissed" to the funky dance rock of "Precious Little" (which rails against religious hypocrisy) to "Don't Ask Me Why," the sort of Elton John-like ballad that R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" once again (and unfortunately) made safe for democracy.

McEvoy's vocals get top billing, however. She shares a keening quality with Dolores O'Riordan and Sinéad O'Connor, but she holds that in reserve much of the time, favoring a soft, conversational whisper that gives a haunting, calming quality to her anthems of female hope and reassurance. McEvoy constructs weighty, moral dramas out of the everyday lives of teenage girls, giving them lessons to live by in the form of three-minute pop songs. Docked a notch for Kieran McEvoy's cheesy, fuzzy guitar solos.

-- Seth Rogovoy