As talented as a singer and songwriter that Joe Henry is, he's probably more famous for being Madonna's brother in law. Now one year later after producing one hell of an album for the king of soul Solomon Burke, Henry returns with his ninth solo album that finds him moving completely into the realm of jazz which listeners only got nice taste of on 2000's excellent Scar. Guest stars on Scar like Ornette Coleman and Marc Ribot must have really rubbed-off on him, because Tiny Voices doesn't have one ounce of alternative country that Henry is known for; hell this guy had the Jayhawks be his band on an album once for God's sake. All I can say, is that Henry is all the better for moving in this direction. >

This is by far the best album he's ever done. Tiny Voices reminds me of 70's era Tom Waits; odd little jazz numbers with very bizarre lyrics. "This Afternoon" sees Henry taking the view of others in a hotel, while "Widows of the Revolution" finds Henry writing as if he was a woman whose husband had left him. The best song though has to be the title track "Tiny Voices;" an impossible song to listen to unless it's cranked up extremely loud, because every time in the five verses of the song that Henry slams his piano, it just sends this exciting rush of energy through my entire body. If you've never heard of Joe Henry, then here is where to start. It doesn't get any better than this album right here.