Words

Sherrié Austin's 1998 debut is a charming and inspired beginner's effort that deserved at least a little more attention than it got. On songs like "Innocent Man," "You Keep on Lovin' Me," and the bluesy, double-entendre-laden "Put Your Heart into It" (a centerpiece of Austin's live shows), Austin--who wrote or cowrote many of the songs--strikes convincing musical and romantic poses that are somewhere between sophisticated adolescence and womanly earnestness. Austin's powerful, trilling, little-girlish voice and sweet Aussie enunciation are occasionally demeaned by the generic country-rock arrangements, yet Words proves that sometimes that first time around can also be the charm. --Bob Allen