Long’s third solo album continues the singer-songwriter soul of her first two, mixing the confessional lyrical ideas of Fiona Apple, the soulful tone of Annie Lenox, the power of Linda Ronstadt, and the gospel blues of Aretha Franklin. Long writes of interior matters such as the promise of trust and love and the redemption of a new relationship. The opening track wonders if a friend can break a downward spiral, while “Homeward” realizes that the singer needs outside support to spur her own recovery, reversing the title song’s escape in the process. The funky “Pain and Glory” contemplates both sides of a difficult love, and the fetching country waltz “Excess” finds solace in a temporary liaison from “an excess of no living” and “an excess of no love”; the morning after gets its due on “Sunday Redemption.” Though Long is a pianist, her keys are heard mostly in the background and as the foundation of compositions such as the darkly angelic “Bones” and the emotional blue-jazz ballad “He and I.” The latter sounds a bit  like Lyle Lovett’s “Nobody Knows Me, Like My Baby,” and reads beautifully of the emotional bonds between a mother and son. Long’s a powerful, emotional songwriter and singer with an accomplished new CD that should be heard by fans of Fiona Apple, Shawn Colvin, Annie Lenox, Jeff Buckley, Aimee Mann, Janis Ian, Lyle Lovett and other singer/songwriters who’ve broken through to the mainsteream. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2008 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]
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