Elmore

If her name is new to you, rest assured that Whiteley is a two-time Juno Award winner (Canada's grammy), and with her fourth release, she should gain well-deserved US recognition, too. She sings of both the uplift and heartbreak of relationships. Somehow, even the sadder songs resonate lively as her clear, melodic voice seamlessly glides over the music. Addtionally, as with any effort involving producer and multi-talented string man Steve Dawson, the instrumentation fits perfectly.

Whiteley's got a knack for songwriting and word play, conveying feelings we all relate to simply and cleverly. Much care went into this deeply personal album, produced four years after "Dear". Comparisons are already being made to Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks for its bitterly honest, steeped-in-reality collection of songs. Whiteley has that special gift only the best songwriters have, and she sings better than most of them.