Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart: Never Gonna Let You Go

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Stacey is Steve's kid sister but has become very much her own person over a couple of previous albums, and here, with her husband and longtime songwriting partner, she shows a softer heart in acoustic songs which stray to the subject of love in various manifestations. Her Americana country-folk voice is an acquired taste -- its usually engaging, plaintive quality can become a narrow twang at times -- but she also likes to get a little raucous with the band (the fun-times bar-room piano and chorus stomp of Maybe That's Just Me).

Sometimes the lyrics let things down (try the obvious opener to Our World) but with diverse arrangements (moody Cajun funk-rock on the Stuart-led Lookin' For Fools Gold, the hum of supportive organ and slack string upright bass on Fishbowl), the memorable songs, some fine guitar work throughout -- and a bonus disc of acoustic demos of most songs -- this package becomes a steady grower which will command more stereo time than a first play suggests.

(Southbound)