Lovelight
Although Claire Lynch is not as well known outside bluegrass circles asAlison Krauss, their musical strengths are similar. Both can be breathtakingly captivating singers, and both look beyond traditional bluegrass for creative inspiration. Yet, while Krauss remains primarily an interpreter of others' material, Lynch presents herself as a singer-songwriter.Love Lightis the first of her albums to feature a majority of her own material. Standout tracks include "I Don't Have to Dream," the kind of folk-pop song Krauss might kill for, and the Western swinger "Stranger Things Have Happened." Lynch's Front Porch String Band is augmented by special guests including fiddler Glen Duncan, Dobro playerRob Ickes, and harmony vocalist Keith Little.--Rick Mitchell