Rate: 3 (out of 5)

By Jay Lustig - Star-Ledger Staff

On her second solo album, the former 10,000 Maniacs frontwoman inspires high hopes early on with "Life Is Sweet" and "Kind & Generous," two songs that have it all: uplifting melodies, gorgeous production, vocals that are both passionate and compassionate.

It's downhill from there, though to be fair, the results are never less than respectable. Merchant peppers the album with talented guest stars,including guitarist Daniel Lanois, trumpeter Chris Botti, and vocalists N'dea Davenport (of Brand New Heavies), Karen Peris (of the Innocence Mission) and Yungchen Lhamo. Her core band, anchored by bassist Graham Maby (Joe Jackson, Marshall Crenshaw) and drummer Peter Yanowitz, is solid, and there's a warm glow to all her singing.

But her ambitious lyrics don't always click (e.g., "The wicked king of parody/Is kissing all his enemies"), and some of the songs are overly repetitious and static, drifting along rather than building to an emotional climax. Merchant's ardent fans won't mind, but this album isn't likely to expand their ranks very much.

Merchant presents a benefit for the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Southern Center for Human Rights at the Supper Club, 240 W. 47th St., New York, at 8 p.m. June 14. Tickets are $30; call (212) 307-7171