Delta Dreamland (1993)

When the New Traditionalism flood seemingly wiped out everyone who wasn't cute, male, and hatted, it drove the more melodically adventurous, pop-oriented singer-songwriters like Deborah Allen to the lifeboats. Six years later, Delta Dreamland finds her in peak form. From the Juddsy title track to the Orbisonian ''Two Shades of Blue,'' Allen lays down a memorable stack of tunes delivered in a voice that could bend the brims on all those stiff Stetsons. A-