Yes, he's Sean Penn's brother, but don't hold it against him-Michael Penn is an exceptionally gifted songwriter who just might turn out to be one of the finds of the year. His chilling melodies glide effortlessly over valleys and peaks in a style that recalls early Bowie, McCartney and especially Crowded House/Split Enz (there's even a line about time and tide!), with a bittersweet edge that both soothes and stabs, and his beautiful voice could get both adolescents and graduate students all misty. Despite the comparisons, Penn is seldom derivative, and while his ideas aren't always fully focussed-this is his debut-the record's only major drawback (apart from its godawful Hawkwind-ish cover) is that it sometimes tries a little too hard to be a hit, something that's not helped by the occasionally over-slick production; although Penn's guitar playing and sidekick Patrick Warren's keyboard work prevent the record from sounding anonymous, there are heavy contributions from a brigade of crack session musicians, including Wendy & Lisa and Peter Blegvad (at least Penn's got interesting friends!). While it's hard to say if the record-buying masses are in the mood for an album like this, March promises that Michael Penn's best is yet to come. Top Cuts: "No Myth," "Brave New World," "Bedlam Boys," "Invisible" and especially the gentler "Battle Room" and "Innocent One."

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