Back to Me

iTunes Review

Bruised memories and aching ruminations are the order of the day on Kathleen Edwards’ sophomore album Back to Me. It’s easy to tag her as Canada’s answer to Lucinda Williams — the two of them share an expressive drawl and a penchant for confessional songwriting. That said, Edwards claims her own identity here with her intensely visual lyrics, invoking a picture of childhood loss on “Pink Emerson Radio” and measuring emotional distances in “Copied Keys.” Songs like “Away” and “Old Time Sake” redeem their sense of desolation with diffident, elegant melodies. The sparkle of young love animates “Summerlong,” while a fragile sense of optimism emerges in “Good Things.” For all her angst, Edwards is no pushover – the spunk she displays in the title track and “In State” helps mitigate the generally brooding mood of this album. Notables like keyboardists Pierre Marchand (of Sarah McLachlan fame) and Benmont Tench (from Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers) flesh out the tracks. In the end, it’s Edwards’ willingness to expose her scars and probe her heartaches that makes Back to Me worth repeated listenings.