going neck and neck with Raitt on slide guitar. "Monkey Business" lays on the funk, with honking baritone sax courtesy of Los Lobos' Steve Berlin, while "I Can't Help You Now" recalls creamy 1960s soul. A nod to the African core of the blues, "Back Around," features the lilting guitar work of Habib Koite. Taking the tempo down, Raitt turns David Gray's "Silver Lining" into a hymn of hope. Throughout all the various textures, Raitt puts forth her signature soulful vocal delivery and gutsy bottleneck chops, once again proving herself queen of the Americana road.

HOLLY GEORGE-WARREN
(RS 894 - April 25, 2002)