Wayward Angel (Mcup)

Kasey Chambers’ third solo album, Wayward Angel, debuted #1 (and remains so over a month later) in her native Australia, where she is a huge star. In the U.S. she has built a solid fan base thanks to touring, critical acclaim and word-of-mouth. Partly born of tradition, partly of the times, more than a little country but with a healthy dose of rock ’n’ roll, Wayward Angel is a singersongwriter album for those who find their musical heaven off the beaten path.

On her third album, Chambers has weathered a storm of publicity and expectation by clinging to her deeply southern--as in Australian--roots. She stands by her Dead Ringer Band kin (brother Nash Chambers produces and father Bill Chambers plays lead guitar), and her delicate songs continue to celebrate the innocence and wonder of loving and being loved. The slight adult-contemporary sheen never outshines the blues and bluegrass flourishes--indeed, "Follow You Home" rips like a Del McCoury breakdown--as she explores all the poetic potential of the conditional voice. "If I were lost would you shout my name out loud?" and "If you were a river run dry, well I'd sing you sweet by and by" are more than coy conceits. They're unforced glimpses of grace, earned by remaining faithful to who she is. Even in a holding pattern, the sweet strength of Chambers's voice and songs find room to soar. --Roy Kasten