Clare Bowen As Scarlett O'Connor, Season 2 (feat. Clare Bowen)

For fans of individual characters on the ABC series Nashville — where actors actually perform the songs in the show — Big Machine's series of character-driven albums makes perfect sense. While it's true that all of the songs that Clare Bowen performed as Scarlett O'Connor have been issued on the series' four individual soundtracks, this nine-song set collects only those she performed in season two. This is a smaller representation than the 14 that appeared on her volume from season one, but to be fair, there are more cast members now. That said, she remains one of the series' most satisfying performers. While all of these tunes are enjoyable, there are some real highlights. "Why Can't I Say Goodnight" is a stellar ballad sung in duet with Sam Palladio. The noir-ish, tango-tinged "Waitin'" casts her character's trademarked restraint nearly to the wind, allowing her voice a throaty rise above the backing ensemble. The sparse Americana of "Every Time I Fall in Love" — penned by Al Anderson, Sarah Buxton, and Ken Johnson — underscores her character's arc perfectly. The rockist country-pop of "Black Roses" is an excellent nod for radio programmers. "Come Find Me" is a sparse yet soulful R&B-flavored number, while "It Ain't Yours to Throw Away" — also with Palladio and co-written by Pam Tillis — is the most haunting track in the bunch. This set is a brief 30 minutes, but it's well worth the investment for its musical consistency.