It's not every classically-trained musician who can play the violin like an air guitar and invite new age guru Deepak Chopra to kiss her ass in song.

A college radio favorite who's performed or recorded with the likes of R.E.M., Sarah McLachlan, Robyn Hitchcock and Daniel Lanois, Bonet simply had too much energy -- and too many great original tunes -- to be confined in an orchestra, as anyone who's seen one of her passionate, powerful live performances will attest. So she traded her black recital dress for a pair of go-go boots and an electric blue violin, and is now stepping into the solo spotlight.

With a singular sound The Wall Street Journal calls "Sheryl Crow meets The B-52s," Bonet has found a way to fit her string skills into ironic, twisted alternative pop. It's "catchy as any Top 40 radio song," the Journal noted, "but with occasional hints of adult depth."

The New York singer-songwriter wowed audiences with witty and wild showcases at CMJ and SXSW, and was singled out by many journalists as the standout act at Lilith Fair.

Her 2001 debut, Bigger Is Always Better, won raves, including a four-star review in All Music Guide, which called the album "a glorious, intelligent hookfest."

The soon-to-be-released, followup -- the fiery, funny and fabulous Last Girl On Earth -- features a bumper crop of new Bonet originals, including "I Wanna Get Arrested," an honor (and dishonor) roll of celebs who've done hard time and the "unhappy-go-lucky" love song "It Sucks But It's True."

After listening to her ironic but heartfelt, should-be hits, and watching her frenetic live show, it'll be hard for anyone to argue with the frank assessment of Rolling Stone's Rob Kemp: "She could be huge."