Righteous Love
Righteous Love, unlike its 1995 breakthrough predecessor,Relish, is more profane than sacred. In fact, Osborne gets rather bawdy on "Baby Love," which details the pain and perils of involvement with a considerably younger man, and on the gender-bending "If I Was Your Man." The invigorated Kentuckiandoesseem to be describing love of the celestial kind on the title cut. And, like theBeatles,Alanis Morrisette, andMadonnabefore her, Osborne makes a detour to Mother India; raga elements spice up "Running Out of Time," the aforementioned "If I Was Your Man," and the outstandingly alliterative "Grand Illusion." The Osborne ofRighteous Loveis a graceful chameleon capable of conjuring the specters ofLaura Nyro,Carole King, andBonnie Raittat their edgiest. She throws in a dash of gospel in "Angel Face," only to become a plaintive victim of love inBob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love." But throughout, she proves that she's a survivor, borne up on wings of her own construction, singing fierce tales of renewal, empowerment, and endurance.--Jaan Uhelszki