Deep Natural

Although double albums are again de rigueur, the mercurial Shocked pushes the envelope on her first release in four years. Fully free from major-label duties, Shocked picks up where the quasi-gospel vibe of the limited-edition Good News left off (even reprising a few tracks) and delivers the most expressive singing of her career. She fuses deep Southern funk, Jamaican dub, ambient country-folk, and socially and sexually conscious soul (à la What's Going On) with poignantly confessional, faith-based lyrics. "The more I forgive, the more I forget/Let it go, let it go," she consoles herself. The sprawling instrumental companion disc, Dub Natural, has moments of artistic surprise (especially the supernova blues rock of "Draughts of Dublin"), though it rarely finds the purpose and spiritual poise of this set's main attraction--Shocked's ardent singing and gleaming, inspired songwriting. --Roy Kasten