is a prodigy who has been a favorite on the festival circuit for years. Her 1994 album for found her being pushed a little too forcibly toward the mainstream; still, on occasion, the specialness of her hard- twang shined through. With , she fulfills her promise with soaring beauty. Co-producer (and chief) backs off and allows to explore a terrain that encompasses the fierce, severe magnificence of and the sorrowful whine of heartbreak. excels at both, showing the same kind of hard, soulful splendor that displayed when he evolved from to . 's guests pretty much define her tastes: She performs a duet with -- in his best performance in years -- and, elsewhere, enjoys harmony support from and have been linked for years ( was one a runner-up in a contest that won). ' commercial success certainly helped renew 's belief that , too, could attract a larger mainstream audience. But the two aren't that similar as vocalists. Where ' voice is sweet and pure, 's is twangy and aggressive. What they share is a commitment to musical integrity. ~ Michael McCall