Lucky (2004)

''Lucky'' might have worked better as a musical. It's anthemic and cathartic, and it's built on straightforward narratives that develop the character (Etheridge) and the plot (how she fell in love with Tammy Lynn Michaels). As a rock album, though, it's ordinary. The finest track is the refreshingly wry ''Breathe,'' which avoids the sturdy purposefulness that weighs down the rest of the record. A few more songs like this one, and listeners might have felt lucky too.