Kathleen Edwards, Failer

By James Keller

The biggest challenge for any folk artist, especially any with the obvious country undertones of Kathleen Edwards, is to escape the pigeon-holing that lets critics so freely disregard many similarly excellent artists. However, simply stuffing Edwards’ debut onto the country shelf to be forgotten for greater, more established folk musicians would be a mistake, as Failer serves up an amazing selection of blues-rooted hooks, quietly delicate ballads and carefully constructed lyrics. The album is country to the core, folk on the surface and something entirely on its own in between. From “Hockey Skates,” which also shows itself on the Men With Brooms soundtrack, to more upbeat tracks like “12 Bellevue,” Failer doesn’t try to be anything, instead creating a work that’s impossible to simply dismiss as just another folk record.

2- Aimee Mann, Lost in Space (Superego)

3- Emm Gryner, Asianblue (Dead Daisy)