Colleen Rennison - See The Sky About To Rain (Black Hen Music):  Music fans may be familiar with the lovely Ms. Rennison as the lead singer for the Canadian rock band No Sinner (and if you're not, you need to check them out), which is renowned for their frenetic live shows and her wild, untamed vocals.  Whether you're familiar or not, her debut solo effort will be a breath of fresh air.  Working with producer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Dawson, Rennison shows herself to be an amazing vocalist more than capable of transcending genres.

Rennison moves effortlessly from Stax-flavored soul to bluegrass to country to blues, recreating songs from Robbie Robertson, Leonard Cohen, Bobbie Gentry, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Russell, and Joni Mitchell.  Dawson provides wonderful backing, playing nearly every stringed instrument of record and using that same vintage recording equipment that made his recent release so compelling, and it never hurts to have the McCrary sisters providing backing vocals.  Honestly though, I think I could sit and listen to Rennison sing a lawn mower repair manual.  Fortunately, I won't have to, thanks to this exquisite release.  Trust me, she's the real deal, folks.