I BearShared a whole pile of music to evaluate, last night. And I've got a few singer-songwriter recommendations to make. (As soon the Old Smalland castle sells, I'll be buying a couple of CD's...):

1. O is Damien Rice's new U.S. release. What's he sound like? Think David Gray meets Aztec Camera. No, don't. I don't like David Gray, and I'm probably the only person in the U.S. that listened to Aztec Camera. Rice is a soulful balladeer with mournful, raw melodies, accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Oh, hell, just go to his website and download Volcano, then come back here and buy the album by clicking on that first link. (It helps me pay for the site, dontchaknow.)
2. Patty Griffin's received mention here before. She's got three albums out. Living with Ghosts was her first. It's a sparse, folksy album with simultaneously bold and delicate vocals. Lots of folks (including, yes, the Dixie Chicks) have covered songs from this album. She followed it up with Flaming Red, a straight-up rock album. It sounds little like the first, containst the already mentioned "Wiggley Fingers" as well as the radio friendly Blue Sky. A song called "Change" will make you realize that Alanis may have been passionately angry, but a little intellectual depth goes a long way. 1000 Kisses is her latest, and is dominated by the beautiful ode to cloudy skies and the dread of their endlessness, Rain. Listen to this album, and you'll hear the influence of Springsteen (even a cover of "Stolen Car") and, yes, Joni Mitchell. Damn, I gotta get me some Patty Griffin to listen to.