If the road from acting to rock music is a notoriously perilous one, Juliette Lewis is traversing it better than most. Following two albums with garage band the Licks, this first solo outing marks a step forward. Despite its title, Terra Incognita covers little unknown ground: the bluesy "Hard Lovin' Woman" could be her audition piece for a Janis Joplin biopic, and Patti Smith is another obvious forebear. But derivative or not, she's discovered a more varied tone, ranging from the woozily psychedelic ("Romeo") to the feverishly gothic ("Noche Sin Fin"), and melodies to match her raspingly alluring vocals.
(Roadrunner)