Erin McKeown

At 27, this American singer-songwriter has been quite prolific. Three earlier albums, Monday Morning Cold, Distillation and 2003’s Grand, earned her critical praise, but didn’t manage to separate her from the Lilith Fair pack of femme songstresses. That may change with We Will Become like Birds, her best work yet. Recorded in three weeks in New Orleans with co-producer Tucker Martine (Modest Mouse, Jim White), it is also her most focused. Its strengths are subtle, emanating from evocatively poetic lyrics and intelligent instrumentation and arrangements. Having such studio aces as Matt Chamberlain and Sebastian Steinberg on hand was definitely an asset. The wonderful Juana Molina guests on an album highlight, "The Golden Dream,” a song co-written by Erin and Jayhawk Gary Louris, with another peer, Peter Mulvey, singing on "Delicate December.” McKeown has a clear and pure voice that caresses rather than grabs, with Beth Orton as a possible reference point. The album will likely take a few listens before it fully seduces, but the time taken will be worthwhile.