music

"Cities 97 Sampler Volume 19" sets two records worth applauding -- more female vocalists (eight if you count a duet) and more tracks (19) than any of its predecessors. And the women contribute some of the most memorable selections.

Shawn Colvin kicks off the disc with a swirling, dusky-voiced acoustic reading of Gnarls Barkley's 2006 blockbuster "Crazy." She makes you realize that it was a great song as well as a masterful recording. Patty Griffin brings an earthly soulfulness to "Heavenly Day," and uncredited Lisa Hannigan transforms Damien Rice's "9 Crimes" into a compelling duet.

As for the guys, tracks by Lifehouse, Gomez and Augustana suggest that too many male singers on Cities 97 sound alike. Give me Ryan Adams, G. Love or even Colin Hay, who dusts off an old Men at Work song.

Other quibbles: Inclusion of old recordings from "Sampler" regulars John Mayer (2002's "Your Body Is a Wonderland") and Sarah McLachlan (2004's "Push"), who was MIA in 2007, seem gratuitous. This collection would have been better served with more Minnesota artists beyond merely Romantica.

"Volume 19" captures some of the key stars of the past year, including Colbie Caillat, the Plain White Ts and Corinne Bailey Rae, whose concert clip of "Put Your Records On" works because it's acoustic-oriented. By contrast, Counting Crows' concert contribution -- "Anna Begins" from Midway Stadium -- sounds a bit jarring as a closer. Otherwise, there is a striking pristine intimacy here that is the essence of Studio C performances.

JON BREAM