Heather Stewart
Album: What It Is
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.heather-stewart.com

LA-based Heather is one of those down-to-earth Americana singer-songwriters who tells life like it is, in a convincing style grounded in raw acoustic-based rock. On What It Is, which turns out to be her second record, Heather delivers her distinctively true-to-life vision in a fiery, strong voice that more than anything recalls Bonnie Raitt, with additional underlying hints of the tenderness of Chrissie Hynde; but neither namecheck should be taken either as a criticism or any perceived lack of originality on Heather's part.

Her lyrics well match her stance and delivery, and their truth sure convinces - aside, that is, from an occasional tendency to posturing (as on Stand Up) or coy insubstantiality (Evelyn). Life itself being the key to her songs, the message is invariably to embrace acceptance of "what it is" (literally), no matter what. Musical settings are suitably feisty too, with Blake Mills and Joshua Grange providing searing or twanging electric guitar, both especially impressive within the bold backdrops. Also well featured are Marty Rifkin (acoustic guitar, dobro), Sean Hurley (bass) and Aaron Sterling (drums), while the whole caboodle is produced well upfront by Greg Critchley.

Whether rocking out wholesale (on Another Perfect You or the stretch-out overload of Underneath) or more contemplatively positing (I Lied, A Little More), What It Is delivers a pretty vital, powerhouse set that for the most part shouldn't disappoint.

David Kidman