Ah, simple pleasures. Many good bands are going to emerge from the revitalized pop movement spearheaded by Katrina and the Waves, but Everything but the Girl has a better chance than most at capturing American hearts and heads. Love Not Money, the English group's second LP, is an engaging if erratic showcase for Tracey Thorn's passionate singing and songwriter Ben Watt's terse takes on classic pop styles.

Thorn, previously known for some awful pseudo-jazz crooning on the Style Council's album My Ever Changing Moods, has come into her own as a singer, much more so than Paul Weller's other protégée, Tracie Young. Thorn is adept at both hard pop ("When All's Well") and delicate ballads (an obvious yet effective cover of Chrissie Hynde's "Kid"). The only truly unsatisfying singing is Watt's lead vocal on "Sean." His playing is much better: the guitar lines in "Are You Trying to Be Funny?" and "Anytown" are roots rock an Anglo can be proud of.

Love Not Money has its share of flaws: Watt's music is far more sophisticated than his lyrics; Robin Millar's production makes the songs sound more alike than they really are; and Thorn is not yet the soul singer she thinks she is. But these blemishes are more distracting than annoying on this relatively solid pop LP. If Watt improves his songwriting and chooses a more appropriate producer, Everything but the Girl's third album could be something special. (RS 454)

JIMMY GUTERMAN