I'm supposed to be reviewing Maggie Estep's new album Love is a Dog From Hell. Instead I'm contemplating the horrible change that appears to have come over her in the form of a bad haircut.

I know my job is to judge music, not appearance, but you can't help but wonder about a punk super-diva who appears on her first album in combat boots, wild (long) hair and a don't- fuck- with- me stance, and on her second album is curled up fetally on a hospital bed, with high- heeled, slinky boots and a sexy suit. Is she trying to tell us she's healed from her days of being an Angry Woman? And if she is, who wants to hear this album anyway? I mean, the whole reason anyone liked Maggie (we're on a first name basis) was the fact that she was the angriest of all angry women. I bought her first album after hearing half of the song "Hey Baby" in someone's car 'cause she was not only angry, she was witty and funny.

I have actually listened to her new album. More than once even. And everytime I thought the same thing: this is her emotional follow-up album? Because frankly, it sucks. As an artist, we would hope for some evolution. As a songwriter we would hope for some (key word) new lyrics, and for $13.99, we would hope for a decent album.

We, as an audience, would be sadly disappointed because there are only two songs on this album that were even worth making, and only then if they'd gone on the first album. The first one, "I'm an Emotional Idiot," is just classic Maggie Estep. It's one of those songs that's funny 'cause it's true, and she does a fairly good job expressing both the feelings you have while involved with someone and the sense of ridiculous inherent in having them.

The other song worth hearing is "Jenny's Shirt." It's not like a catchy tune that you want to hum or anything but it's an interesting story and if you like linear lyrics this is your song. It's a more like hummed poetry than spoken word or actual singing.

I guess the fact is that I'm an Angry Woman and I look for the same thing from Maggie. When you aren't actually a singer, you need to market on lyrics and the lyrics just don't come through. There is more than one reference to songs on her first album, which is just kitsch, and leads me to believe she was short on material. My advice to her is: If you're short on material, don't make a fucking album. I mean, come on! My advice to y'all: Don't waste your money on this album. Re-listen to the first one or just do without.

-Rachel Kbendtsen