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Joan Baez, whose career spans five super-impressive decades, proves she is still a force to be reckoned with on this 24th studio album. Focusing on major topics like wartime, religion and death, Baez has teamed up with Steve Earle, who has not only produced the album but contributed three songs (two new compositions, and an a cappella version of his Jericho Road). As on previous collections, what makes this particular record a resounding success is the choice of songs. Baez covers tunes by Eliza Gilkyson, Diana Jones, Elvis Costello, T-Bone Burnett, as well as British songwriter Thea Gilmore. Though the compositions are generally upbeat, the mood is reflective as Baez s famed soprano--shorn of some of its top notes by now--weaves its spell over these largely acoustic numbers. The standout song is perhaps the title track, an affecting Iraq War ballad originally penned by Tom Waits. Where Waits typically performs it in his inimitably grizzled manner, Baez plays it gently, accompanied by insouciant acoustic guitar, subsequently transforming it into an even more human and fragile moment. A dazzling collection. --Danny McKenna