New music: You + Me, Rancid

You + Me, "Rose Ave." (RCA)

Any fan of Alecia Moore (aka pop's rugged princess, Pink) knows she refuses to let herself be hemmed in by anyone else's definitions. In recordings and concerts, she has committed her raggedly soulful voice to subtle music, backed solely by acoustic guitars on songs of protest and love, with stunning results. So, this new "passion project" with singing/songwriting collaborator Dallas Green is a quieter extension of Pink's skills. However, this isn't a conventional folk album. Instead, rich harmonies fill "Break the Cycle" and the emotional chorus of "Capsize," with a somber groove throughout. This is an acoustic soul project with country accents. There's a sketchy, demo-like feel to the sleepy "Unbeliever" that is quite distant from Pink's better known punk-pop sheen. Most impressive, though, is the pair's piano-backed rendition of Sade's "No Ordinary Love," a take so endearing you might forget the original.

a.d. amorosi, Philadelphia Inquirer