Ever wondered what it might sound like if Natalie Merchant fronted Evanescence? Yeah, us neither, but Sony’s betting we’re in the minority – and they might just be right, judging from the way soundtrack supervisors at MTV have taken to Mandi Perkins’ music, featuring the corseted Canadian’s melodramatic pop songs on shows such as “The Hills” and “The Real World.” One listen to Perkins’ major-label debut, Alice in No Man’s Land, is enough to let you know that she’s a perfect fit for the network’s teen-focused reality programming – the songs are larger than life and embarrassingly serious, just like the problems faced and emotions expressed by the shows’ stars. Of course, Perkins can only write what she knows – and give her credit, because the girl can really sing – but all the bombast gets pretty numbing after a while; you can’t listen to the whole record in a single sitting without feeling like you’re being beaten over the head with the overwhelming significance of it all. Her music isn’t without promise, but next time out, Perkins would do well to explore her dynamic range a little more. It might not get her music on MTV, but a little subtlety never hurt anybody. (Sony BMG/Victor 2008)
