Michael Penn: Resigned

Why, in the name of all that is holy, does Michael Penn take so long to put out a new record Much of the career momentum that came with his oft-brilliant 1989 debut March had dissipated by the time his drowsy but still wildly underrated sophomore album, Free For All, came out in 1992. Now, five years after that, he's back with Resigned, and remembered primarily for his amazing "No Myth" single and his status as Sean Penn's brother. That's a damn shame, but there's a decent chance that Resigned could re-ignite his career. The album's lead track, "Try," has a good shot at pop success, and "All That That Implies" has a nice, swollen rock chorus. There's still no song that qualifies as "No Myth" redux, but that's not what Penn is shooting for: He's moved on, and continues to write smart, distinctive, melody-intensive pop that sounds like no one's but his. Resigned isn't nearly as consistent as his excellent debut, but there are plenty of solid moments throughout. Here's hoping his next album comes out before the turn of the century.