Out of the Ashes (2006)

Waylon Jennings' widow, who had a crossover country hit in 1975 with ''I'm Not Lisa,'' returns from a two-decade musical exile with this affecting record, which was produced by Don Was. Given Out of the Ashes restraint and good taste, however, it sounds more like something Rick Rubin might have worked on. Jessi Colter's '70s sass is gone, replaced by a voice that sounds cured in gospel and cigarettes. But her gift for writing bittersweet, bluesy songs is still intact. File this under ''secular spiritual.''

You Might Also Like

• Music Review Wanted! The Outlaws | Tony Scherman