Beth Orton is an amazing vocalist and an inspired songwriter, but the production on this album is of the quality you'd expect for someone much less talented. In other words: let her vocal abilities and stunning guitar melodies speak for themsleves and leave the super-produced background noise for lackluster bands that can't survive without it. Sometimes less is more, and the over-production on all but three songs really diminishes the quality of Beth Orton's art. With a vocal presence reminiscent of Sinead O'Conner and the melancholy resonance of Natalie Merchant and Johnette Napolitano, this is a woman who can stand on her own without any accompanying mumbo-jumbo. If you donÕt believe me, check out tracks 9, 10, and 11, and don't overlook the fact that these are the only songs produced by David Roback or Beth herself. This makes a big difference. The power of folk rock lies in the bare, gripping emotion that isn't complicated by adding what's unnecessary, and the most powerful and moving songs on the album are the most raw. If you're looking for a female version of Mark Lanegan or Elliot Smith, you've found her. But being under the control of a large label like Arista, it might be a while before we see what she's really capable of.