Latest releases reviewed

JOAN OSBORNE
Pretty Little Stranger
Vanguard
***

You may remember American songwriter Joan Osborne from her smart hit of over a decade ago, One of Us, which brought God down to earth. Thereafter she retreated into her rootsy world of soul and blues while generally keeping a low profile with very occasional releases, although in recent years she has sung with The Grateful Dead. She describes Pretty Little Stranger as her "version of a country record", but it is definitely more country soul than country. This is fine by me, as Oscorne's warm, strong voice suits songs like her simmering version of the Dead's Brokedown Palace and the wonderful tear-stained reading of Kris Kristofferson's Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends. Her own material feels a little strained in comparison, though closing track When the Blue Hour Comes, co-written and co-sung with Rodney Crowell, captures the sweet pain of loneliness bang on. www.joanosborne.com

JD CROWE AND THE NEW SOUTH
Lefty's Old Guitar
Rounder Records
**

Bluegrass banjo legend JD Crowe takes a back seat as his band moves into more mainstream country with this collection of ballads interspersed with the occasional instrumental breakdown. The playing is as excellent as ever, every note and every harmony honed to perfection, but there's an almost numbing predictability about the whole affair, and the balance between sentimentality and sentiment is frequently lost in the mix. www.jdcrowe.net