A good album changes your mood to fit its own tone. Reaffirming and uplifting, pacifying and soothing, or emo and suicidal; the music should exert its power - in a subtle way if not using a direct assault between the ears. The problem with this jazz-lite/folk release from New York singer-songwriter Heather Greene is that the mind-meld only works when I am already feeling pretty mellow, and succeeds (if you can call it success) simply as undemanding background music to which little attention need be paid. That, however, is not how I care to (hardly) listen to music. Unfortunately, to concentrate on Five Dollar Dress is to become more restless with it.

Greene is primarily a pianist and many songs are obviously built up from composition at a keyboard. She has a sultry throaty voice which works well with a gracefully paced decent song, but is not overly expressive and struggles to bring life to lacklustre lyrics when the song quality peters out as the album progresses. However, a distinctively slow and pointedly 'pretty' take on The Cars’ 'Just What I Needed' is a curve-ball of an opener and through the novelty it’s an unlikely winner. Since I was never much of a fan of the original it may even top it. 'When You Drive' has a hook and big sky Americana feel that lingers and pick of the bunch 'I Wrote Your Name' is a sweet yearning ballad featuring the strings of the Tosca String Quartet. There are steel guitar moments there which echo of Margot Timmins and a languid Cowboy Junkies. Elsewhere think of an energy sapped Norah Jones or Natalie Merchant.

Towards the end tracks such as 'Saving Goodbye' appear to exist more as a showcase for jazz guitar icon and featured guest Bill Frisell (a mate of producer Tucker Martine) than for any other reason - emphasising his talents rather than hers and attempting to patch up the listless songs; even competing to drown out her voice. 'I Wanna Thank You' is plain dull despite the 'racy' thanks-for-the-one-night-stand repetitive lyric and another low point is 'Hold Me Down' - a lounge singer vocal over a deliberately tacky programmed percussion beat that was presumably aiming at querky but just falls flat.

The production sound is airy and attractive, and there is nothing wrong with a laid-back vibe per se, but the majority of songs here don't sustain interest enough to make that a worthwhile emotional state in which to let forty minutes slip by. The overall impression is underwhelming and the listener drifts towards bland boredom rather than peaceful bliss. Oh, and P.S. ”“ there doesn’t seem to be much happening at the official website at the moment. 39% Links Heather Greene [official site] [myspace]