Pegi Young has been harmonizing in husband Neil's band for decades, but this self-titled release, which takes its cues from the gentler, more countrified corners of his oeuvre, is the first of her career. These 12 songs (six of which are originals) all travel in well-trodden love and heartache territory, but only really get moving when she ditches clichéd rhymes ("dance"/"romance" on the blooze boogie "I Like the Party Life"). The best moments employ either Ben Keith's steel guitar or a decent loping rock-ish shuffle ("Hold On," written by Will Jennings and Joe Sample) to lift Young's light, clear voice. And as you may have guessed, Neil's guitar is present throughout, which is never a bad thing.—Jessica Letkemann