With her first album in eight years, there seems to be little doubt that Paula Cole is aiming to shake the Sarah McLachlan-wannabe tag that has hung with her since the days of Lilith Fair. Though she rode the alternative wave during those times to her eventual notoriety, this time around Cole appears ready to paddle the mainstream. Enlisting the help of some notable, if unfamiliar, songwriters, the Massachusetts-bred singer has the striking (and professionally trained) voice to make the cut. Cole devotees will drift to a pair of ballads: the sexy, bass-driven "In Our Dreams" and "Lonely Town," a saga of isolation guided by the piano of Herbie Hancock. And while the 11 songs are cohesive enough to run as a package, cuts that stand out as potential hits include "El Greco," a declarative song of restitution, and "Hard to Be Soft," a jazz number decorated with Brazilian-themed rhythms. Whether this renewal can lead to even greater approval remains to be seen--but the audience left over from years gone by is just happy to hear Paula Cole singing again. --Scott Holter

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