Minnie Driver

Membership has its privileges. How else do we explain the cameos that stud Minnie Driver's sophomore effort? Would Ryan Adams really chip in a guitar part if Driver weren't a movie star? Would Liz Phair lend backing vocals? Sure they would. Right.

Related Content

• Conviction: Hilary Swank emotes big in awards-bait flick
  October 21, 2010
• Local Motion: MadMartigan and Tim Charron
  June 18, 2010
• Local Motion: Luz Marina - Coincidencias
  December 30, 2008
• Tegan and Sara at Bayfront Park
  September 2, 2010
• Initial Lineup Announced for Langerado 2009: Snoop Dogg, Chromeo, Bad Brains, Public Enemy, Cafe Tacuba, and More
  December 9, 2008

More About

• Minnie Driver
• Ryan Adams
• Liz Phair
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Movie Stars

In fairness, though, Driver isn't pulling a Hasselhoff here. Sea Stories won't revolutionize the roots rock landscape, but it's a solid record, full of blues-tinged country songs written by the Beaked One herself. "Sorry Baby" has a driving melody, and "Mockingbird" offers a sly Spanish lilt. Rami Jaffee supplies sumptuous keyboard fills where called for, and Eric Heywood adds his weepy pedal steel. It's when Driver leaves her voice exposed that things turn iffy. She just doesn't have the brio to pull off torch songs like "Cold Dark River" — her notes sound flat rather than exalted. Would you settle for a terrific backing band? Yes, we thought you would.