More

01/05/2001 7:00 PM, LAUNCH
Wendy Hermanson

It's useless to debate the merits of bubblegum-styled teeny-dance pop, since it's clearly here to stay--at least for a while. When everyone from the reasonably age-appropriate Christina Aguilera to more, um, seasoned types such as Kathie Lee Gifford are releasing upbeat, over-produced dance records, it doesn't come as a surprise that a former indie-rock chick in her early 30s might decide to go the same route.

Singer/actress Vitamin C (nee Colleen Fitzpatrick), a veteran of the alternative rock scene (her best-known role was in the band Eve's Plum), decided to go the mainstream route in 1999 and scored a couple of pleasant, summer-oriented hits--"Graduation (Friends Forever)" was a particular shoo-in for the high school crowd circa June. Her sophomore effort, More, lives up to the title by being, well, more of the same. Glossy, electronic, and at times quite infectious, the record extends Vitamin C's bubbly reign.

Fitzpatrick nails the dance-pop sound well on her spare first single, "Itch," as well as the almost maddeningly rhythmic "Busted." There's a nice take on the requisite ballad, "That Was Then, This Is Now," perfect for slow dances in the gymnasium. Fitzpatrick bombs on a few tracks--most notably, a weird interpolation of Madonna's "Where's The Party," where she moans like Gwen Stefani on some odd bender--but makes up for this with a perky cover of the Waitresses' "I Know What Boys Like." Not surprisingly, this classic girly-pop tune works brilliantly in updated form.

Overall, Vitamin C proves she's able to work the pop scene in true professional fashion. Move over, Britney, your big sis is here to stay.