Finally Lucy Kaplansky lets her own songs take center stage on a wonderful, provocative, and utterly memorable 10-song release. Recording only one cover (a sweet take on Steve Earle"s "Somewhere Out There"), Kaplansky and husband Richard Litvin have ample space to examine the complexities of love (won, lost, or soon to be kicked out the door) and the challenges of life. Backed by a sterling core of musicians (including guitarist Larry Williams and backing vocalists Richard Shindell and John Gorka), Kaplansky"s oddly pinched yet sumptuously full voice more than rises to the occasion. "Turn the Lights Back On" is the obvious crowd pleaser, but the best moment on this album is its quietest--"Just You Tonight," a spare, acoustic love song that echoes on long after it has finished. --Percy Keegan