Absolute Torch and Twang

In a winking nod to her country roots, k.d. lang\'s *Absolute Torch and Twang* takes her one step further away from them. Her collaboration with Ben Mink, who co-wrote and co-produced the album with lang, reached a new level of maturity with this album. The arrangements-particularly Mink\'s fiddle and the stellar steel guitar work of Greg Leisz-provide the twang, while lang ventures from country-tonk to Patsy Cline-like torch to places much further afield. Make no mistake, she has a voice so gorgeous, so powerful, so elastically evocative, it doesn\'t matter what vocal style she tackles: jaws drop. On this consistently great album, her vocal approach is often more piano bar than Grand Ole Opry. Even the barnyard swing of \"Didn\'t I\" is just one giant step away from Joan Jett. Although a handful of songs induce upbeat two-steps (most notably her spot-on cover of \"Big Big Love\"), the songs tend to find her fluidly aching, yearning for dreams not yet reached. And the music\'s so good, you selfishly hope she never gets there.