Ex-stripper, political activist, and blues singer Kane is the real thing a big, wide mama with enough life experience to back up her world-weary lyrics and back-alley tales. There's a certain greasy joie de vivre on Home Cookin', too, which, wedded with sweaty guitar riffs and Kane's expansive (feathery to ballsy) voice, should earn her popularity beyond her West Coast country-blues base. B+

