The Lucky Few

After being groomed for mainstream Nashville stardom, this exceptionally gifted singer was unjustly exiled to the wilds of alt-country. But if White can’t join the lucky few, she can at least walk proudly (and sing wonderfully) to the beat of her own drummer. Producers Dusty Wakeman and Pete Anderson trade the slickness of her earlier releases for a more scaled-back approach here. Though she primarily draws upon outside writers, White brings a sense of personal confession to these songs. Her voice — defined by its resonant twang and yearning vibrato — connects with the defiance expressed in “Too Big for This Town” and the title song. She invokes the classic Bakersfield sound on “Try Not to Be So Lonely” and proves her folk-rock mettle with “I Just Wanted to See You So Bad.” Most affecting are her ballads, especially “It’s Better This Way” (a duet with Dwight Yoakam) and “I Doubt If It Does to You” (a poignant tune reminiscent of Silk Purse-era Linda Ronstadt). This album nicely captures White’s stubborn individualism and eclectic tastes — an appealing combination.