Trio of young acts offers mixed bag

Fresh, positive voice from a young Hoosier

In the age of glorified karaoke that is American Idol, the term singer-songwriter seems completely out of place. Why bear your on thoughts when it's so much easier to sing someone else's stuff?

In fact, the term singer-songwriter evokes for most people thoughts of 70s folkies with acoustic guitars like James Taylor or Carol King. It certainly doesn't apply to a fresh-faced young pop singer.

Then there's Indiana's own Sarah Scharff, whose debut Waiting was recently released by the Tate Music Group. The Sullivan native wrote and sang all eight of the album's tracks.

What really adds a breath of fresh air to Scharff's album are the songs themselves. They offer a positive outlook on love, life and relationships. The album kicks off with title track, in which Scharff sings about "Waiting" for Mr. Right. The song expresses the desire to find love without ever being too desperate.

"You and I" offers the perspective of someone who's been in a relationship for a while. Sure, there are rocky times, but in the end there is still love.

Among other standouts, "Mr. Moon" is a song of heartbreak and "Lovers Hall of Fame" is, obviously, a tribute to a very special someone.

What's so refreshing about Scharff's music is its innocence. In a genre that attracts so many young listeners, the fact that Scharff never ventures into the realms of partying or sex is nice. When she sings about love, it's the right kind of love.

My spin: B

Learn more at: www.myspace.com/sarahscharff, www.tatemusicgroup.com

Happily dysfunctional with Ida Maria

Read too much into the lyrics of Ida Maria's Fortress 'round My Heart, and one might find a frightening image of the 24-year-old Norwegian's life. There's boozing ("Oh My God"), there's loveless sex ("I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked") and countless other images of the wild life of a party girl.

And then there's "Stella," a track in which God offers "the best of drugs" and then "the world," simply to seduce a "43-year-old hooker from downtown." (I'm not kidding.)

It seems to come from a slightly warped worldview, to say the least.

On the other hand, you can take the music for what it is -- upbeat, energetic and fun.

Behind Ida's vocals, one finds the more than capable playing of Stefan Tornby (guitar), Johannes Lindberg (bass) and Ollie Lundin (drums). It's a musically tight unit with just enough jangle to be poppy and enough edge to remain punk.

So what does the mix of energetic music and desperate lyrics add up to? What it always has -- a good punk rock outfit.

My spin: B-

Learn more at: www.myspace.com/idamaria and www.islandrecords.com

Fireworks tread water but have fun

Is it better to break new ground or simply have fun with music?

On All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion, Detroit five-piece Fireworks emphatically chooses the latter.

Musically, this ground has been trod before. Fireworks plays the pop punk of Blink 182, Sum 41, New Found Glory and countless others. All I Have to Offer, released March 24 by Triple Crown Records, does little to add anything new to the genre.

But that doesn't necessarily make it bad.

Listening to the album, the band is obviously having a good time. They play with energy. They wield their instruments with precision. They have a wonderful knack for anthemy sing-alongs.

It's fun to listen to. Put on the headphones and I dare you not to bob your head or tap your feet. If you have it on in your car, watch your speed.

My spin: C-

Learn more at: www.myspace.com/fireworks, www.triplecrownrecords.com and www.runforcoverrecords.com