Kathleen Edwards: Back To Me kathleen edwards was an overhyped singer-songwriter when she emerged two years ago. her sophomore album is a major step forward. she has toughened up her alt-country sound, which owes a debt to everyone from whiskeytown to neil young. she still sounds a lot like lucinda williams tonally, but the songs feel more like her own. the big change is that she finally has a budding hit single in the title track, a soaring country-rock number on which she confidently boasts, ''i've got moves i've never used/ i've got ways to make you come back to me." she demonstrates a hard edge in the world-weary ''in state," about dealing with a shady, lawbreaking character, and an innocent fragility in ''summerlong," about seeking a romance that will last more than one season. it features her playing a 12-string acoustic, while guitarist colin cripps (who also produces the cd with panache) adds a 12-string electric that pays homage to roger mcguinn of the byrds. much of the album deals with edwards's reaction to her recent move from ottawa to toronto. she thinks back to whether she should rekindle a relationship with a past lover in ''old time sake" and ''what are you waiting for?" allowing her alienation to show, she longs for company in ''independent thief," on which she shimmers with the aid of singer jim james of my morning jacket and organist benmont tench of tom petty & the heartbreakers. her improvement as a songwriter (she writes or co-writes 10 of the 11 tracks) is obvious - and her adult-confessional style lifts this album to a special place for fans who appreciate honest music regardless of genre. steve morse boston.com				Album reviews Feature articles Interviews Show reviews