For ‘Crash’ nominee, a pileup of elements

Bird York

“Wicked Little High” (Narada)

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IT’S probably the best story of indie music crashing the Oscar party since Elliott Smith got an Academy Award nomination in 1998, even if York, a successful actress under the name Kathleen York, isn’t exactly the Hollywood outsider that Smith was when he was recognized for his contribution to “Good Will Hunting.”

“In the Deep,” written with Michael Becker and included on York’s third album (due in stores Tuesday), is in the running for best original song this year for its use in “Crash,” and the stately recording has a measured grace and enveloping mood.

By themselves, all of York’s songs have their appeal, but taken together, her music brings to mind a different sort of film -- “Date Movie,” “Scary Movie” and other spoofs that compile and exaggerate a genre’s cliches.

York piles up the trip-hop touches, looming electronic environments, twangy guitars, world-music exotica, folk flooring, mild psychedelia and light funk, then steps in to play the ethereal oracle and earthy poet. It comes out too familiar and generic, and York’s singing is too unfocused and affected to convey any inner life.

“Wicked Little High” is trying to squeeze into the field of atmospheric female singer-songwriters, but only the most radically distinctive should be applying.

-- Richard Cromelin