In the opening line, Nanci Griffith hankers after "a simple life" in those familiar sweet country tones.

The sting soon follows: "I don't want your wars to take my children". Here is the essence of the Texan singer-songwriter in her 50s; on her 15th studio album, she is both earth mother and political campaigner.

She has long been involved in landmine charity work, and this American fall she has taken to the Democrat concert floor to bash Bush. Her songs once sparkled, light and uplifting, some romantic, others socially tart. Alas, she has grown earnest, musically and spiritually conservative, dulling with the passing years. Only I Love This Town and Beautiful have the old twinkle. The rest drifts into plain.

Minnie Driver has taken a shine to American country-folk, just as she has been magnetised by Hollywood. Luvvie actresses and models are justly derided for knocking out pop records in a flutter of an eyelid, but while Driver may give herself the publishing copyright Minnie Ha Ha, she isn't having a laugh. Before the silver screen beckoned, she was a singer, and here she writes the songs too on "mangled guitar". The voice is soft focus, too unchanging, and the writing pool dries up after three moody love songs. A typical Minnie Driver performance then: briefly striking but irritating the longer she hangs around.

Updated: 08:35 Thursday, November 04, 2004