Serena Ryder

Folk singer-songwriter Serena Ryder was at risk of finding herself in a musical rut. Five albums in, Ryder has proven that she can travel down the road of adult contemporary, with hits like 2006's "Weak in the Knees" or last year's collaboration with Melissa Etheridge, "Broken Heart Sun." But, with little room for expansion or growth, it was time Ryder took her music outside of her comfort zone. Enter sixth album Harmony, a musically adventurous step that's both refreshingly new for the singer and a much-needed change in direction. Ryder's bluesy vocals show new dimension on the piano- and handclap-driven "Baby Come Back," while she loosens up and embraces a bit of Black Keys-esque guitar rock on lead single "Stompa." Harmony isn't flawless; Ryder's a kid in a candy store of new sounds, but she still falls back on a few forgettable melodies, such as on "Please, Baby Please," which veers too far into the typical piano ballad realm. Harmony is just the beginning of Ryder's exploration into a wider range of genres and opportunities, clearly steering her away from any foreseeable ruts.