Vanessa Peters

This is the seventh album from Dallas singer Vanessa Peters, who has spent a huge amount of time over the last decade on the road. Impressive then, that she still finds time to record quality folk-pop like this. With the Sentimentals is named after the Copenhagen based band with which she has to toured in recent years. They've joined her on record for the first time, and getting the fuller sound benefits Peters' style. It allows her to explore deeper and darker sounds alongside her often cutting lyrics.

Here Peters is sounding more and more like Suzanne Vega, on a collection of six completely new songs and three reworkings from her back catalogue. There is also a cover of Hem's Pacific Street, which sparkles at the opening of the album and has a more upbeat feel than the original.

Of her self-penned songs, the scathing Big Time Underground balances a slightly reggae rhythm alongside a bitter take on a "loveable loser" who is set to remain "only recognisable in his home town". The bluesy shuffling Fickle Friends and the poppy Call You All the Time are other highlights. Another impressive set of songs from one of America's hidden treasures.