Rodney Crowell
Veteran country/Americana singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell has been on a roll, with five consecutive stand-out albums since 2001 plus a 2011 memoir, “Chinaberry Sidewalks,” about his dysfunctional childhood. This year’s musical entry is “Kin,” featuring songs cowritten with poet/memoirist Mary Karr of “The Liar’s Club” fame. While his previous four albums showcased mostly autobiographical tunes, “Kin” is more literary and more lyrical. The album is elevated by a series of simpatico guest vocalists including Lucinda Williams, Norah Jones, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Rosanne Cash. Jon Bream