Ace guitarist Nils Lofgren's presence on Bruce Springsteen's tour brought him millions of potential listeners, yet his new record won't convert those ears, nor will it thrill Lofgren devotees. The problem is not Lofgren's playing, but the material, none of which rivals Lofgren's best compositions ("Back It Up," "Across the Tracks"). Few of Flip's tunes chart any new territory, and many are lost in clichés.

In "Dreams Die Hard," Lofgren is most guilty of lazy writing, as he philosophizes, "You can try to fulfill any dream/Some dreams are realized/Some are shattered," and advises, "Don't let go." The same message returns on "Flip Ya Flip" and "Secrets in the Street" – imperfect songs that illustrate Flip's major weaknesses. These tracks are built around boring rhythms rather than strong melodies, and the guitars are mixed surprisingly way down. The production, by Lance Quinn and Lofgren, favors heavy bass and drums, topped with layers of synthesizers – "Secrets in the Street" even features obtrusive dribbles straight out of Yes – and sustained guitar chords, leaving Lofgren's real picking to fills.

"New Holes in Old Shoes" and "Big Tears Fall," the record's most striking songs, stray farthest from that sound. With its acoustic guitar and harmonica, "New Holes" recalls the sparse bluesiness of 1976's "Cry Tough," although the cheesy drum-machine opening remains an unnecessary annoyance. "Big Tears Fall," Flip's finale, is the album's first to offer a memorable, melodic chorus. Lofgren's hoarse, caught-in-the-throat voice delivers perfectly this rumination on society's evils, and the reference to Jimmy Cliff's "You Can Get It If You Really Want" adds an ironic touch that raises the song above the typical isn't-the-world-horrible lament. "Big Tears Fall" is the first cut on Flip to display Lofgren's talent; too bad it's also the last. (RS 451)

ROBERT SEIDENBERG