Hill’s debut impressive introduction to country

“So Far, So Good” (BNA) — Kim Hill

A former award-winning contemporary Christian artist, Hill has made an impressive country-music debut.

On “So Far, So Good,” Hill exhibits such influences as Carole King and James Taylor as she explores relationships between men and women on the ballads “Wise Beyond Her Tears,” “Walk Me to the Front Door” and “Blue Without You.”

But the Mississippi native also can rock, as she shows on the playful single “Janie’s Gone Fishin’ ” and the exuberant title cut. Her roots also turn up on the gospel/blues song “When We’re Home.”

Unlike her fellow tour mate, Amy Grant, Hill has turned to the crowded field of country music. But albums like “So Far, So Good” will get her noticed. Hill has too much talent to be overlooked.

“That Was Then, This Is Now” (Columbia) — Ten City

Ten City’s debut for Columbia offers music that comparable to an evening at a dance club. It’s great to dance to, but you don’t remember it after you leave.

Vocalist Byron Stingily provides an interesting falsetto, but it’s soon lost to a monotonous, hammering beat. Their original songs, reflecting on love and life, just don’t have any qualities that make them memorable.

While the Chicago trio fills “That Was Then, This Is Now” with 14 songs (70 minutes plus), it’s hard to say where one song starts and the next begins. A little more musical diversity would help Ten City to make an impact outside the dance clubs.

“Split” (4AD/Reprise) — Lush

Lush makes its first album in two years memorable and haunting. The band scores with a more straightforward live sound than 1992’s production-laden “Spooky.”

The British group is aptly named. Rich vocals by Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson settle into a bed of comfy sound provided by guitarist Berenyi and Anderson, bassist Phil King and drummer Christopher Acland.

The album’s main flaw is that on a few tunes, the vocals get submerged by the instrumentation, making the lyrics hard to comprehend.

Still, “Split” won’t lose any fans for the group. Instead, more will probably convert to the Lush sound.