Music Capsule Review

23rd Street Lullaby (2004)

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SHE'S THE BOSS Scialfa's second solo CD covers ground familiar to Bruce fans, but succeeds on its own terms

Patti Scialfa: Janette Beckman/Retna Ltd USA

Credits

Release Date: Jun 15, 2004; Lead Performance: Patti Scialfa

B+

By David Browne

David Browne

David Browne is EW's music critic and author of ''Dream Brother: The Lives & Music of Jeff & Tim Buckley'' (HarperCollins)

Before she met husband Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa lived, loved, and toiled away in downtown Manhattan, a time she chronicles on 23rd Street Lullaby, a modestly ambitious semi-concept album (a belated follow-up to her 1993 cult disc, ''Rumble Doll''). Like Bruce, she's fond of noble laborers and wordy songs, loves an occasional ''sha la la'' chorus, and makes no attempt to adorn her plainspoken delivery. But there's an inviting, appealing earnestness to Scialfa's bruised-soul folk rock. Wistful and nostalgic (but never maudlin) tunes like the title track and ''Yesterday's Child'' are guaranteed to stay with you longer than ''The Ghost of Tom Joad'' ever did.

Posted Jun 18, 2004

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