*** Kim Richey

BITTER SWEET

(Mercury)

I don't know about you, but I haven't been terribly impressed with any of the new generation of bestselling country divas: Lorrie Morgan, Kathy Mattea, Trisha Yearwood, even little LeAnn Rimes. They're all gifted singers, but the trouble is, most of their material sucks. Sure, clichés have long been part of country's songwriting terrain, but for the most part the art has dissipated from the genre's exploitation of the familiar because of poor writing (not to mention shallow vocal performances -- again, listen to the artists above).

Which brings us to Kim Richey. Not only does she have the expressive vocal chops and sophistication of phrasing to put the quality that George Jones has described as "the ache" back into country in a soulful way, she's got blessedly good material that melds hooks and smarts like damn few artists coming up Route 80. Songs like "I'm Alright," "I Know," and "To Tell the Truth" swing with the openhearted graciousness of great country, Richey's voice navigating all the nuances of romantic experience soured or stalled with convincing intimacy. And "My Whole World" sounds like a beautiful lost Roy Orbison ballad. It also helps that producer/songwriter Angelo (former Bostonian Angelo Petraglia -- and I swear I'm not being provincial in my praise) keeps the guitars a little more raw and sparky than a Nashville CD typically affords. This is music too good to ignore.

-- Ted Drozdowski

(Kim Richey plays the Paradise this Wednesday, June 11, with openers the Laurie Sargent Band. Call 423-NEXT.)