Two thumbs up! Keating travels down the same shimmery, acoustic path as pop/folk artists like Suzannne Vega and Shawn Colvin, while exerting her own strong musical identity.

Lots to praise here, but I was especially impressed with Keating's mysterious, image-rich lyrics. Consider this excerpt from "Rough Draft:" "Claustrophobic rooms are my bane/Love walls, heart boxes, soul cages/with one ear poised to the sky/I listen for the other side/I know it's there somewhere."

Other highlights include the playful "Boy With a Kite," the moody "Shoot for the Moon," and a gorgeous ballad, "NY 10/11/91," which gave me goosebumps.

Keating's airy voice is supported by her fine guitar playing and a topnotch band, including D.C. studio MVP Pete Kennedy. Big league-sounding production by Bob Read and Keating.