album reviews: Spin Cycle is a biweekly roundup of the latest music releases selected by Citysearch editors.

Michael Jackson [ tickets ]
"Invincible" (Epic)
Street date: 10/30

If ever there was a time for a Michael Jackson comeback, it's now--shiny, happy pop music is still going strong. And in a post-Sept. 11 world, who isn't feeling a little nostalgic for Michael's childlike optimism? On "Invincible," his first album of new music in nine years, Michael and his production team--including golden-boy Rodney Jerkins (Toni Braxton, Brandy)--kick things off promisingly with a solid set of peppy dance tunes and spirited love songs. "Unbreakable," with its nervous-twitch keyboards and a posthumous rap by Notorious B.I.G., lives up to its claimed invincibility. But halfway through the album, Michael ruins the good mood with a seemingly endless run of soggy, would-be anthems and self-pitying celebrity complaints. He hits a career low with "The Lost Children," a creepy, airheaded companion piece to the pictures of missing kids on milk cartons. We need Michael back, but not like this. --Justin Hartung, citysearch.com

Prince [ tickets ]
"The Rainbow Children" (Redline)
Street date: 11/20

"The Rainbow Children"'s cover art--a swirling painting of a jam session--makes it clear that Prince has reinvented himself once again. He has ditched the stiff drum-machine pop of his recent work in favor of a live and ferociously versatile band, creating his most organic and consistently innovative music since his genius output of the late-'80s. The exuberant title track has a jazz-rock fusion vibe that manages to do justice to both genres. Elsewhere, the band works it out James Brown-style, takes it to the couch with slow-jams, then heads into church for some lively, Vegas-infused gospel. Unfortunately, the record is burdened by a pretentious, overarching narrative about "the Wise One" and his struggle with "the Banished Ones." More disturbing is Prince's new attitude toward women, who are to be "in subjection" to the Wise One. Apparently, the good grace he feels towards his "rainbow children" has its limits. --Justin Hartung, citysearch.com

Natalie Merchant [ tickets ]
"Motherland" (Elektra)
Street date: 11/13

Natalie Merchant's third studio release unveils this songwriter's passion for gospel- and blues-infused folk music. For the first time in her solo career, she has enlisted a co-producer, T-Bone Burnett (The Wallflowers, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"), who adds a rootsy touch. An array of musicians, handpicked by Merchant, lay the groundwork of North African and Arabic sounds on "This House Is on Fire" and "Motherland." Gospel music legend Mavis Staples lends brief but profound vocal support on "Saint Judas" and "Build a Levee." These songs are gently delivered by Merchant's soothingly thick voice (on "The Worst Thing," she sultrily croons in Spanish), and resonate with thought-provoking observations, some eerily appropriate to the events of September 11 ("... passing wrong for right and right for wrong, people only stand for that for just so long"). Track after solid track, "Motherland" is a collection of pure, soulful offerings. --Lois M. Rodriguez, citysearch.com

Shelby Lynne [ tickets ]
"Love, Shelby" (Island)
Street date: 11/13

The last time Shelby Lynne rebelled against her Nashville roots, she did so with conviction and success by releasing "I Am Shelby Lynne" (2000), an outstanding alt-country pop album. That album proves to be a difficult act to follow. Grossly overproduced by Glen Ballard (Wilson Phillips, Alanis Morissette), "Love, Shelby" is a hodgepodge of modern R&B ("Trust Me"), '70s-ish television theme song music ("Killing Kind") anthemic rock ("Jesus on a Greyhound") and lite jazz ("Tarpolean Napoleon"). Though she is a technically brilliant singer, on "Love, Shelby," Lynne's voice is tonally thin and emotionally stone-cold. The album's sole bright spot is "Wall in Your Heart," a beautifully tender ballad. Lynne would be well advised to look up producer Bill Bottrell, with whom she created "I Am Shelby Lynne"'s distinct, cohesive sound. On "Love, Shelby," she keeps shifting gears in an ill-advised attempt to please too broad an audience. --Don Harvey, austin.citysearch.com

McCoy Tyner [ tickets ]
"Plays John Coltrane: Live at the Village Vanguard" (Impulse)
Street date: 10/16

Recorded live in 1997, McCoy Tyner’s latest album reaffirms his status as one of the most influential pianists in jazz history. Joined by bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster, Tyner stays true to the intense and spiritual Coltrane sound he helped nourish in the '60s, though one can hear how he has grown into a more reflective and delicate player. Both "Naima" and "Crescent" dip and soar with powerful, rolling chords, hitting several crescendos. Foster does give an explosive Elvin Jones impersonation on a couple of songs ("Afro Blue" and the infrequently heard "Mr. Day"), but for the most part, the listener shouldn't expect the frantic, propulsive performances of the studio recordings--that's not what "Plays John Coltrane" is about. It's about paying tribute in a way that's stylistically personal, and this trio succeeds beautifully. --Curtis Waterbury, portland.citysearch.com

Previous Spin Cycles:

Nov. 1: Lenny Kravitz, Dave Matthews Band, Bush, 'Harry Potter' soundtrack, Jad Fair & Daniel Johnston

Oct. 18: Charlotte Church, John Mellencamp, New Order, Death Cab for Cutie, Dan Bern

Oct. 4: Elton John, Garbage, Spiritualized, tribute to Hank Williams, The Strokes

Sept. 20: Bob Dylan, Tori Amos, Ryan Adams, Diana Krall, Charlie Hunter

Have a comment or question? Send a message to the Spin Cycle editor: Don Harvey.