Long Stretch of Lonesome

In a genre where artists mostly rely on outside songwriters, Patty Loveless attracts the best of the bunch. Offering more than the country staples in Long Stretch of Lonesome, her latest smartly explores near-existential concepts, from blind faith and romantic doubt to destiny and middle-age blahs. Most refreshing is how Loveless’ Appalachian blues sound torchy with hardly a hint of twang. A-