The musical-dramatic effect achieved when a brittle, assaultive, plugged-in guitar whipsaws languid-sounding vocals and organ on "Crashin' and Burnin' " is altogether convincing. "White Rose" illuminates the sort of hard-won grace found in early Springsteen -- the prairie town's neon signs not all that different from those once glowing at the Jersey Shore. Throughout this album, Eaglesmith distinguishes himself from the common run of singer-songwriters.

-- Frank-John Hadley