After the disappointing Fruit at the Bottom, Wendy & Lisa hit a peak with their third album, Eroica. Containing some of the best music of their careers, it also is a perfect synthesis of the dance club beats of Fruit and the well-developed songwriting of their debut. "Staring at the Sun" and "Mother of Pearl" show compositional and arranging complexity that is positively breathtaking. What's more, the musicianship is at a peak, containing some of the best playing the duo has ever done, including a fiery Wendy Melvoin guitar solo in "Turn Me Inside Out." Lyrically, there is more depth as well. "Mother of Pearl," about broken relationships, and "Valley Vista," about a bittersweet childhood memory, have a far darker edge than the lighter material of Fruit. Even the love songs have more of a bite as well. Eroica is a perfect introduction to Wendy & Lisa's formidable talents. ~ Victor W. Valdivia
