Joan Baez

After 50 years of performing and recording, Joan Baez remains as graceful and quietly fierce as ever. The iconic folk singer's 24th studio album, superbly produced by Steve Earle, who also contributes guitar and vocals, sees her in fine form. Her familiar voice is brimming with hard-earned wisdom and, while they have a mellower edge at 67 than in her youth, her notes still ring pure and true. More inclined in recent years to return to her roots as an interpreter of others' songs, this latest album contains a gorgeous selection of music by artists such as Patty Griffin and Eliza Gilkyson to Elvis Costello and Tom Waits. Three of Earle's compositions also grace the disc, including the gently hopeful opening track "God is God," an album highlight, with stirring vocal harmonies and the steadfast pitter-pat of brush-kissed drums. Gentle undercurrents of politics and spirituality run through this lovely and poignant collection, which is faithful to the spirit of Baez's incredible five decades' worth of work.