CD REVIEWS POP/ROCK

Various Artists, "Cities 97 Sampler 21"

I hate to sound like a broken record (do people still remember that concept?), but I have the usual complaints about Cities 97's annual charity sampler: Too few female artists (four out of 20, but no Brandi Carlile?), too few local acts (two) and too many familiar tunes (almost all of them). That said, this is one of the stronger "Sampler" collections because so many of the singers are more passionate in this stripped-down setting than on their slickly recorded discs. Jason Mraz starts it off with his rolling tongue on "1,000 Things"; Rob Thomas sounds swingingly soulful on "Her Diamonds," and Adele makes "Right as Rain" sound like the perfect storm. All but three tracks were recorded at Cities 97's Studio C. The reunited Jayhawks' "Two Hearts" from the Basilica Block Party fits like a hand in a glove, but Ray LaMontagne's poorly recorded, full-band "You're the Right Thing" from the State Theatre stands out like a sore thumb. "Sampler 21" will go on sale at 8 a.m. Thursday at Target stores in the Twin Cities area.

JON BREAM, Star Tribune

Lyle Lovett, "Natural Forces" (Curb/Lost Highway)

This is Lovett without his Large Band. The lanky Texan with the crooked grin leads a small ensemble and focuses on his folk-country side. His title song is a finely etched portrait of a loner cowboy, but mostly Lovett uses the album to showcase the work of fellow Lone Star troubadours: He gives sympathetic readings of songs by Townes Van Zandt, David Ball, Eric Taylor and others. Lovett does show his lighter side, cutting loose with the risqué swing of "Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel" and the honky-tonk wordplay of "Pantry," and "It's Rock and Roll" is just that. Given the somber, slow-paced ambience that predominates, however, these bright, up-tempo performances seem out of place, giving the album a bit of a disjointed feel.

NICK CRISTIANO, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

COUNTRY

James Hand, "Shadow on the Ground" (Rounder)

This is only the second studio album for the 57-year-old Texan. As with 2006's "The Truth Will Set You Free," also produced by Ray Benson and Lloyd Maines, Hand pours a lifetime of experience into its grooves, creating a perfectly realized honky-tonk world, whiskey-stained and neon-lit. With the quaver in his voice, his sometimes haunted air, and the twang-fueled music, Hand bears a strong resemblance to Hank Williams Sr. But from gut-punches such as "The Pain of Loving You" and "Don't Depend on Me" to the defiant "Ain't a Goin' " and the gospel-flavored "Men Like Me Can Fly," Hand is clearly creating his own memorable musical legacy.

NICK CRISTIANO, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER