Joan Osborne - Pretty Little Stranger

Osborne will be forever associated with her 1995 hit “One of Us,” recently revived as the theme song for the TV show Joan of Arcadia. She’s recorded only sporadically since, and mostly covers at that, so Osborne’s latest is a significant achievement. Although she interprets songs by The Grateful Dead, Kris Kristofferson and others, it’s her own songs, especially the country-tinged “Who Divided” and the soulful title track, that stand out. And Osborne’s lusty contralto, always one of her strengths, still commands attention.