Sara Groves

After a season of service to Katrina victims and Rwandan sex slaves, Groves brings true stories of immense struggle to her drippingly emotional music. Her sound here is as varied as the voices she's set out to represent: Comfortable Christian girl rock ("Love is Still"), pop kissed ("A Song for my Sons"), new-country, funk-tweaked ("There's A Girl in the Room"), with rock veneers that reflect a Plumb, Joni Mitchell balance. Her best side is still honey-cracked vocals and rambling rhythms as in the gracious folk of "Say A Prayer" and "Honestly."