Underneath The Stars

All the instruments, like Rusby's sweet voice, are geared only to move along these stories of lovers separated by water, press gangs and death. What really lifts the album to extraordinary heights, though, is the exceptional quality of the songs Rusby has written herself. While "Young James" and "Polly" fit easily among the older tales of perpetually unrequited love, both "Falling" and the closing title track are crushingly beautiful love songs with an enlightened twist, both grieving and glad. Really, they're stunningly good, close to holy, clearly very personal for Rusby but evocative enough to draw the listener helplessly inside. --Dominic Wills