Elisa - Pipes & Flowers (1997)

Italian singer Elisa is the Alanis Morissette of her home country -- an angst-ridden beauty with a chip on her shoulder and a powerful collection of rock songs. Her voice is what invites the comparison the most, although the music is also quite similar. There is a European pop feel that creeps into the music, lush keyboards appear here and there, and the hooks are more attune to British pop music. With all these obvious influences sticking out, it would seem that Elisa is probably not that good. But, really, she is shockingly better than one would think. Her hooks are solid, tracks like "Labyrinth" and "Cure Me" are memorable, and the lyrics are not as wince-inducing as Morissette's ramblings. The music is missing the catchy charm that made Alanis the multi-platinum success she became, but in its place there is a maturity that is very endearing. Any fan of strong, female-fronted alternative pop should give this a listen, as this is an enjoyable album from a talented singer.