Liz Phair [ tickets ]'s indie credibility took a tumble with her self-titled 2003 collaboration with The Matrix, the production team that turned knobs for Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch and Hilary Duff. The pop sheen of "Why Can't I," as catchy as it was, didn't pack the salacious crotch-grab of "Flower," from her 1993 debut, "Exile in Guyville."

Those expecting any elements remotely close to "Guyville" or the 1994 follow-up, "Whip-Smart," won't find them in "Miracle." In fact, the slick, Avril-ish 2003 effort has evolved to an even slicker, adult contemporary album that might be expected out of Shawn Colvin or Sheryl Crow. Not necessarily bad news, if you're into Colvin or Crow.

The songs flow together seamlessly, all essentially mid-tempo and completely listenable, but the fire that permeated the early career seems to be on the back burner.

"Everything To Me" is a jangly acoustic and plaintive plea--not really a demand--for guy maturity. The bouncy "Stars and Planets" repeats "We all shine, shine, shine" so often that John Lennon's estate may be in touch, and Brian Wilson would smile at the lush multi-tracked vocal harmonies of "Count on My Love.”

As a well-oiled pop stroll, "Miracle" works fine, and if Phair wanted to distance herself from "Guyville's" grit, she's done it in spades.

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