Ron Sexsmith
Artist: Ron Sexsmith
Community Score: 8.50

Ron Sexsmith is so anti-cool that this may actually be one the coolest albums you hear. The Toronto singer/songwriter's appearance matches his music perfectly -- hair falling in tousled bangs over doe eyes and baby face; one of those guys who always got beat up in high school and couldn't string two words together in front of a real live girl... Read More

Come on Now Social
Artist: Indigo Girls
Community Score: 5.50

Indigo Girls had sort of boxed themselves into the corner during the late '90s. They had become pop culture icons, as known for their politics as their music. Unfortunately, being in such a position meant their music had gotten a little stale, as the good but predictable Shaming of the Sun illustrated. The duo seized the opportunity to... Read More

Broken Things
Artist: Julie Miller
Community Score: 8.00

Long-championed by neo-Nashville insiders, Julie Miller's second album includes 11 originals (plus the traditional "Two Soldiers"), some of which she sings with her husband and producer Buddy Miller in harmony; on others she's joined by stellar guests. Patty Griffin sits in to help sing the beauteous ballad "I Still Cry"; Victoria Williams (she... Read More

Spirit - AUSTRALIA BONUS CD
Artist: Jewel
Blue Days Black Nights
Artist: Freedy Johnston

The darkest, most understated Freedy Johnston record to date, Blue Days Black Nights is also the singer's most intimate effort, largely rejecting the quirky character studies of prior outings in favor of more plainly personal narratives, and revealing new shades of depth and honesty in the process. Co-producers T-Bone Burnett and Roger Moutenot... Read More

Whereabouts
Artist: Ron Sexsmith
Community Score: 8.90

Ron Sexsmith's third album continues the singer/songwriter's talent -- and perhaps his need -- for revealing his delicate and contemplative reflections on life and himself. On Whereabouts, Sexsmith sounds vulnerable yet a bit more worldly than on his previous two albums, and his clear, plaintive vocals sound best on the most introspective tracks... Read More

Collection
Artist: Julia Fordham
Community Score: 9.33

Julia Fordham has rarely found a song that her voice didn't capture and own. Herein lies a best-of collection of 15 tracks, including some new versions of her classics, a remix of "I Thought It Was You," and two new tracks confirming this assertion. Although other fan favorites are missing, such as "The Comfort of Strangers" and "I Want to Call... Read More

Soul's Core
Artist: Shawn Mullins
Community Score: 7.67

Spontaneous, vibrant, and lyrically stimulating, Shawn Mullins scores big with his passionate messages and his flair for natural storytelling that touches the core of the listener's soul. Mullins brings together ten years of hard work and a respected musician's ethic for the release of the aptly entitled Soul's Core, his first record on a major... Read More

Dog Eared Dream
Artist: Willy Porter
Community Score: 7.00

Patty Larkin is a good female comparison to Willy Porter. Both are awesome guitarists and humorous storytellers who write and sing songs that cross genre borders, generally landing somewhere between folk, rock, pop, and blues, with the occasional soulful tinge. Dog Eared Dream was originally released independently in 1994, being reissued in 1995... Read More

White Ladder
Artist: David Gray
Community Score: 7.92

David Gray's fan base is strong and active. They have seen him through his years with Virgin Records, during which time he was applauded for his talent, emotive voice, and songwriting skills yet never quite broke through to a mainstream audience. White Ladder showcases Gray like never before; it's an album of such depth and quality that one... Read More