In Brief

Johnson doesn’t write love songs for cynics. There’s a sweeping romanticism to this 22-year-old’s music, in which she compares loved ones to miracles and angels. In the hands of a Celine Dion or Mariah Carey, ballads such as “Forever More” would have been wrung free of every ounce of drama. Johnson’s more subtle treatment gives her often lofty and ethereal ideas about the search for one’s soul mate some down-to-earth realism and charm.

*

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).

* TimesLine 808-8463

To hear excerpts from the albums reviewed, call TimesLine and press * and the artist’s corresponding four-digit code. Puff Johnson *5723

In 805 area code, call (818) 808-8463.