Bosque Brown

On her second album, Texan Mara Lee Miller has turned her Bosque Brown project into a full band, one that benefits from the fuller production of the Baptist Generals' Chris Flemmons. Baby, the resulting album, allows for greater diversity between songs, exploring gospel and traditional country while showcasing Miller's unique vocal talents. Opener "White Dove" spins a piano and vocal arrangement into a small miracle complete with hushed cello and spare drums. Elsewhere, songs like "Train Song" and "This Town" are slightly more upbeat thanks to their driving drums. The whole album is punctuated by "On and Off," a haunting a cappella round that pops up in three places. Pushing herself on all levels, Baby is a remarkable achievement that firmly plants Bosque Brown at the top of the heap.