Emmylou Harris

Of course Emmylou Harris has impeccable taste -- consider the collaborators and covers she's chosen over the years. So it's no surprise that her entry in Starbucks' Artist's Choice compilation series would cover an extraordinary swath of musical ground, complete with selections that are thoughtful, inspired, and eclectic -- in fact, it's the best edition of the series thus far. Given Harris' stature and longevity, it's a safe bet to assume her influence on many of these songs runs deep -- Gillian Welch's "Elvis Presley Blues," Patti Scialfa's "Spanish Dancer," and Buddy & Julie Miller's "The River's Gonna Run" plainly carry her inspiration, while she also nods backwards in time to roots music icons like Bill Monroe ("I'm Working on a Building") and Waylon Jennings (the haunting "Dreaming My Dreams With You"). Left-field selections like the O'Kanes ("Oh, Darlin'") and the Staple Singers ("Uncloudy Day") further strengthen the set. Artist's Choice: Emmylou Harris is unlike so many of these Starbucks discs that traffic in the tried and true, as Harris refuses to condescend to demographic studies and genre boundaries. Your average listener will discover much new music to savor here -- it's like a mixtape from your hippest friend. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide