released her first album in 1997, but it took her nearly two decades until she snagged a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2016. The nod was for , her first record for and fifth collaboration with producer , with whom she has an easy, natural chemistry. , her 2018 sequel to , illustrates that for however easy her rapport with is, it is hardly lazy. Like its predecessor, is rooted in Southern soul-blues -- the opening "Back to Blue" is a proud throwback to the classic sound of -- but adds new dimensions to this blueprint. Notably, there's a strong country undercurrent that runs through the album, first surfacing on "On and On" -- a steady-rolling number featuring 's on pedal steel -- but reappearing on the title track and the fragile "Down Below." When paired with the adventurous blues that pops up elsewhere -- "Home" is a fuzz-drenched gospel number, "Hammer" is densely funky yet finds a spot for -- this Americana turns into a rich, rewarding affair that betters its fine predecessor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine