Three years ago, a young, busty singer promoting a surprising debut album made her first appearance on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Records soon began moving mass units, and before long Jewel-mania was out of control. No one could have predicted that the winsome young Alaskan would one day ride the success of "You Were Meant for Me" down our throats and into our collective nightmares.

Similarly, last week Alana Davis made her first appearance on "Late Night," in support of her own stunning album Blame It On Me. However, where Jewel faltered, Davis shines.

With her melodic Ani DiFranco cover "32 Flavors" already buzzing radios (What? Someone got airplay with an Ani DiFranco song??), Davis is well on her way into Jewel's strata. Blame it on Me is one heck of a reference for Davis to put on her pop diva application. Equal parts Joan Osborne, Joan Baez, Bill Withers, and Joni Mitchell, Blame is a strong release, with all 12 tracks resounding of musicianship and beauty.

Aside from the DiFranco cover, the album is Alana's own material, and she plays a sweet acoustic guitar. Musically, most of the songs have a hollow and open feel to them, and they're all anchored by Davis' guitar work. Davis' jazz background (her father is jazz pianist Walter Davis) is also evident, as the songs shift tempos and rhythms with ease.

What Davis smartly sidesteps are the overblown ballads that tend to ensnare most up and coming artists. Just because someone played foolish games with your heart doesn't mean we want to hear your weepy ballads. Davis thankfully leaves the heartaches at home, for the most part.

-Lang Whitaker