Only Everything

The Juliana Hatfield Three folded soon after the supporting tour for Become What You Are, yet Hatfield hasn’t abandoned the basic approach of the band — she still rocks out, supporting her singsong melodies with massive, grungy guitars. If anything, her new backing band rocks harder than the Hatfield Three, with a better, looser sense of rhythm as well. Even with the improved musicianship, Hatfield isn’t able to deliver consistently impressive songs, occasionally relying on her cuteness to cover underdeveloped lyrics and pedestrian melodies. Most of the record doesn’t drag, however — it’s a fun, engaging pop album, yet its best moments follow the strengths of her earlier songs, without doing much to expand her formula. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine