ItвЂ™s a bruised statement of humanity and resilience, and strikingly honest. Warmed by acoustic and baritone guitars, piano, steel, horns and some Daniel Lanois-style sonics, itвЂ™s stripped of production bombast that choked вЂњPlatinum.вЂќ Emotionally tempered, Lambert delivers her most personal vocal performances, like sheвЂ™s taking stock of self and dreams. вЂњPlatinumвЂќ felt like image-conscious demographic-pushing this double album, co-written with some of NashvilleвЂ™s earthier songwriters, feels like reclamation of creative roots. MIRANDA LAMBERT, The Weight of These Wings (Vanner/Sony Music Nashville): 4 STARS NicholasвЂ™ voice is thin and rough but knowing, and his dexterous slide playing offers evocative, ear-pleasing compensation. The Gary Nicholson co-write вЂњPlay Me (Like You Play Your Guitar)вЂќ is a greasy highlight the moody вЂњRoll on Mississippi,вЂќ вЂњBayou BluesвЂќ and the earnest title track are also noteworthy. The veteran Austin guitarist, harmonica player and former Snooky Pryor sideman savvily positions blues within a broader Americana canvas while mixing choice Willie Dixon and Sleepy John Estes covers with originals co-written mostly with multi-instrumentalist Scrappy Jud Newcomb. The standoutвЂ™s вЂњA House is Not a Home,вЂќ as elegant as it is heartbreaking. Collaborating with husband (and Dionne Warwick musical director) Rob Shirakbari, she strolls through lush arrangements of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David catalogue, slowing down the CarpentersвЂ™ вЂњClose to YouвЂќ and closing anthem вЂњWhat the World Needs Now is LoveвЂќ just enough to personalize them. With glass-smooth delivery and warm tones eerily reminiscent of Karen Carpenter, this UK songbirdвЂ™s affection for midtempo вЂ™70s-style pop seems preordained. RUMER, This GirlвЂ™s in Love (A Bacharach & David Songbook) (East West): 3 STARS Listening to outtakes and alternate mixes on this two-disc anniversary set, itвЂ™s illuminating to hear how WelchвЂ™s vocal style shifted as various melodies and rhythmic emphases evolved. Songs like вЂњOrphan GirlвЂќ and вЂњTear This Stillhouse DownвЂќ have since become Americana staples.

It seemed an anomaly, an Appalachian blast from the past composed by a pair of Berklee grads: the LA-raised Welch and partner David Rawlings, whose refined guitar mastery shapes and deepens their sound. Welch was a festival favorite already championed by song miners like Emmylou Harris when вЂњRevivalвЂќ emerged to impressed reviews in 1996. 1 The Official Revival Bootleg (Acony): 4 STARS Highlights: вЂњBreathing Underwater,вЂќ вЂњSweet Architect,вЂќ вЂњGive Me Something.вЂќ More such moments - and more rhythmic variation - would make it easier to connect with the human need expressed. A swelling chorus and big production helped make вЂњHurtвЂќ a hit, but вЂњGive Me SomethingвЂ™вЂќs simplicityвЂ™s more effective acoustic guitar and piano leave ample room for SandГ©вЂ™s poignant plea (вЂњGive me something that I can believe inвЂќ) to reverberate.

Opening track вЂњSelahвЂќ declares, вЂњMy love is the bomb and forgiveness is the rocketвЂќ backed by a shimmery gospel choir that embellishes most of these 15 tracks. Post-divorce, the soul-pop chart-topper strives for cathartic release and spiritual comfort.

EMELI SANDГ‰, Long Live the Angels (Capitol): 3 STARS

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