The Stand-In

In a perfect world, Caitlin Rose would be a big star, and indeed, she may well get there anyway, given that she has a sweet, pure, coy, sassy, assured, and beautiful voice, and writes wonderfully balanced pop-country songs that suggest Patsy Cline, Linda Ronstadt, and the commercial pop end of Fleetwood Mac all rolled together. On The Stand-In, her second full-length, Rose builds on 2010's critically applauded Own Side Now, and delivers a strong and assured collection of songs that poise themselves right at the junction of country and pop, which ought to assure her of some strong radio play across multiple formats, since songs like "I Was Cruel," the gorgeous "Only a Clown," the stunning and precise "Silver Sings," and the melodic and memorable "Everywhere I Go" could fit anywhere into anyone's life. Rose isn't trying to be all traditional country here, or even all straight pop either, but somehow she effortlessly melts the two together, and this set is definitely a winner, full of solid playing and, of course, Rose's easy and comfortingly wise vocals. In a perfect world, and even in an imperfect world, she deserves a wide and appreciative audience.