The Herald Sun:

russ hymnself's comic altar-ego - Claire Sutherland & Nui Te Koha

OSCAR winner Russell Crowe has concocted a sharp comedic alter-ego named The Preacher.

But actor-singer Crowe, 40, is undecided about whether The Preacher's hilarious recordings will be made public.

He taped The Preacher's incisive philosophical rants between takes for a coming Crowe solo album, My Hand My Heart.

Crowe invited the back room to his Sydney home last weekend to hear the solo record and a few tasty riffs from The Preacher.

The Preacher's biting monologues have shades of the US south, comedian Bill Hicks and Christian television show hosts. Crowe recorded the spoken-word pieces during studio downtime.

The Preacher has a whole album of material, but Crowe is unsure about releasing the recordings.

However, when the back room urged Crowe to tour The Preacher on the summer rock circuit, the idea was carefully considered. Watch this space.

Meanwhile, Crowe's solo record My Hand My Heart is a quiet storm, the singer/songwriter's most personal and tender statement to date. Lyrically, Crowe pays tribute to a wife's strength, feels the pain of family tragedy, contributes to the drinking-song genre and toys playfully with outside perceptions.

"I'm only as I am . . . not Satan or Superman," Crowe sings on one track. "How did I get to be the worst in the world?"

New single Raewyn is available for download at www.sanity.com.au

My Hand My Heart will be released on May 10.