*1/2 The Sundays

STATIC AND SILENCE

(Geffen)

Five years ago the Sundays scored an American hit with "Love" from the album Blind, a disc that gave the British band a strong foothold in the US. Unfortunately, this long-overdue follow-up doesn't sound like the result of five years' work -- more like five days. On "Homeward" and "When I'm Thinking About You" fairly good lyrics are supported by a bland backing of strummed acoustic guitar, light bass lines, and quiet drumming. The appealing dynamics of Blind have disappeared on all but "Summertime," Static and Silence's first single and lead track. This tune opens with a pleasant jolt of twangy electric guitar rather than a sickly sweet acoustic guitar, and the loud/quiet arrangement harks back to the Sundays that went gold five years ago. Harriet Wheeler harmonizes with herself here, giving the song a fullness that's rare on the disc. As a singer she's grown up, replacing her Björkian baby-girl chirp with a richer crooning voice. Plus, what she has to say is almost revolutionary: it's refreshing to hear a woman singing to us about love and happiness in a time when most are complaining about how crappy men are.

-- Jumana Farouky