Corn Sisters

You should already own the solo albums by Neko Case and Carolyn Mark that came out earlier this year, but if for some godforsaken reason you're behind the game and a bit short on dough, here's the answer to your prayers. In their Corn Sisters incarnation, the chemistry between the two is absolutely spellbinding. And because this is a live recording, their high lonesome sound - let's call it swoon and croon - comes through loud and clear, except when Mark's acoustic guitar is occasionally and inexplicably mixed higher than the soaring vocals. It's a credit to Mark's clever and crafty songwriting that it's hard to tell the album's originals from the many cover versions, including Lucinda Williams and Leiber/Stoller. This'll put tears in your beer, a jump in your step and a song in your smile.