Despite
Erika Jayne employing pedigreed dance producers
Eric Kupper and Peter Rafelson,
Pretty Mess never makes an impression. Its title is about correct as it could be.
Jayne's looks are rather pretty judging by the cover art and publicity photos, and the music is a messy mix of tepid house, faux-scandalous come-ons, and alternately overly-produced or demo-quality vocal tracks. The album is at its worst when
Jayne teases about playing dress-up, asks if she can be your concubine, and pleads to feel your love inside. At least when
Lords of Acid treaded this territory years before there was a hint of fun. Here it reeks of desperation, while every other song rips off "Womanizer" or funky dance club numbers. At least the funk is appealing on her cover of
Apollonia's "Sex Shooter," though her voice isn't up to the task of pulling the track together. Guest drummer
Sheila E adds some nice tribal percussion on "Time to Realize," but at this point it's too late.
Prince probably won't be looking
Jayne up in the near future unless she and her handlers lose the desperate-for-love shtick that mires so many of these songs. Some of the closing tracks, more reminiscent of J-pop ballads, do suggest a sweet and delicate subtlety in
Jayne's delivery. But this only makes the preceding numbers seem worse in comparison.
Pretty Mess could soundtrack goofier dance clubs around the world, but it's not the kind of album that would usually find appeal beyond such a niche. ~ Tim DiGravina