Search - B-Witched :: Awake & Breathe

Even more than the Spice Girls, the four-woman Irish act B*Witched is an all-things-to-most-people proposition. Awake and Breathe, the second album by these U.K.-chart conquerors, doesn't make concessions to the American pop market, but these 13 tracks do contain their share of potential stateside hits: the Sheryl Crow-like "If It Don't Fit," the straight-shooting Spice-esque "Shy One," the Crystal Waters-style house "My Superman." A broad spectrum of comparisons for one album? Put it down as much to healthy eclecticism as mercenary concerns. Still, Awake's occasional big statement seems more forced than necessary: Ladysmith Black Mambazo's appearance on the would-be anthem "I Shall Be There" is more a nod to their own recent bestselling status in Great Britain than any desire for real connection between the two groups. But while hardly a classic, the best of Awake will please fans of heartfelt mainstream pop. --Rickey Wright