Translated from Love (Bonus Track Version)

Kelly Willis occupies a niche between the Nashville mainstream and the hipper shores of alt-country, and 2007’s Translated from Love represents her best work in nearly a decade. Her purring twang and saucily-slurred phrasing (with a hint of laughter or tears in nearly every line) is as beguiling as ever. The sunny abandon Willis brings to such tunes as “Nobody Wants to Go to the Moon Anymore,” “I Must Be Lucky,” and “The More That I’m Around You” is irresistible. She indulges her playful side with a gender-switching take on “Teddy Boys” (a British pub rock-styled tune) and a call-and-response rendition of “Success” (an old Iggy Pop favorite). From the bittersweet Tex-Mex ambiance of the title track to the early ‘60s teen-pop drama of “Don’t Know Why,” Willis blurs distinctions between rock and country, and producer Chuck Prophet’s use of vintage synthesizers alongside the acoustic guitars and banjos adds an extra sonic tang. Translated from Love speaks to any country fan who likes their music smart, heartfelt and just a little adventurous.