Shelter

Shelter

Singer Maria McKee, a small woman with a gigantic voice, has always had trouble finding the appropriate backup band and production style--on Lone Justice's second and final album, E Street Band guitarist Little Steven tries to turn her into the female Bruce Springsteen. He's partially successful: on the opening song, "I Found Love," McKee belts like a countrified Aretha Franklin, and each of her five successive "yeahs" sounds more explosive than the next. But while McKee's voice is timeless, the tinkly keyboards and thudding electronic drums make <I>Shelter</I> an '80s period piece. (Guitarist Shane Fontayne, who joined Lone Justice for this album, later performed in Springsteen's post-E Street backup band.) <I>--Steve Knopper</I>