Five Stories
Part of Boston's vibrant (and crowded) singer-songwriter scene, Kris  Delmhorst stands out thanks to a gorgeous, tender, evocative voice and a  textured and varied musical palette. She opens with a funked-up reworking of  "Cluck Old Hen," complete withBeck-like banjo, followed  by the bittersweet "Damn Love Song," where only acoustic guitar, cello, and  accordion color in the lines behind her. "Broken White Line" is graced with  delicate strains of pedal steel and mandolin, while the ominous, languid "Just  What I Meant," a highlight here, crawls along with occasional bursts of cello  and baritone sax. And her wounded voice on the haunting chorus of "Gave It Away"  sends shivers. While Delmhorst is at her most appealing when the musical  settings are ambitious, her lyrics seem to benefit from a more restrained  approach. Thus, songs like "Words Fail You" and "Yellow Brick Road"--with basic  musical tracks and too-clever words--fall comparatively flat. But for the most  part, this is a powerful sophomore effort, one where elements of traditional  roots-based folk successfully mingle with modern singer-songwriter flourishes.--Marc Greilsamer