Kathleen Edwards Voyageur (Zoe/Rounder)
As someone firmly entrenched in the singer-songwriter realm, Kathleen Edwards has avoided being pigeonholed. Voyageur, released today, serves as solid proof as the album shifts from rock to pop, folk to blues, with varying degrees of twang oscillating throughout. There are even light electronic moments on “Sidecar.” End to end the Canadian songstress’ album feels light and breezy, fun and relaxing, even when the mood turns more introspective, serious or contemplative (Edwards was recently divorced), as is the case with “Pink Champagne.” Edwards’ stunning voice shines, complimenting each musical diversion. Possibly her strongest album yet, and first since 2008’s Asking For Flowers, Edwards revised her songwriting process and allowed collaborations to take place for the first time, most significantly with Justin Vernon of the wildly popular Bon Iver. Guests also appear in droves, including Norah Jones and Phil Cook of Megafaun, adding additional layers of depth and creativity. Voyageur is a beautiful album that showcases Edwards’ ability to capture the emotion of a moment and transcend that feeling with graceful passion. —Glenn BurnSilver
