Kathleen Edwards: Back To Me kathleen edwards' debut, "failer," was the work of a pretty but tough young thing who managed to sound playfully seductive even when she was singing about hockey skates. the shows that followed revealed that not only could edwards skate with them, she could rock just as hard as the boys. two years later, "back to me" seems like more from the same batch. it doesn't get any better than the bold title track, which sounds like she pushed tom petty out of the way and ran off with his heartbreakers. over husband colin cripps' snarling guitars, she sings, with one part seduction, one part desperation, "i got lights you've never seen/ i've got moves i've never used/ i've got ways to make you come/ back to me." it's a bit of a tease, as edwards hasn't really let her crack live band loose. aside from that single and her second straight crime story to open a record, edwards isn't as generous with the rockers. she has a pretty voice and, like lucinda, loves to linger over the melodies on midtempo and slow, sweeping songs that dominate "back to me." the listener can linger as well, whether it's "independent thief," a song overcome with longing, or "pink emerson radio," a piece about rescuing her prize possessions in an apartment fire that seems to move in dreamy slow motion. again, she's written elegant, poetic lyrics dealing with trust, of relationships revisited or up in the air. and edwards is certainly no pushover in this game. "you say you like me in your memories/ you've got to be [bleeping] kidding me," she sings on "what are you waiting for." if there's a problem with "back to me" it's that it isn't better than "failer." it's a bit blander, actually, but just like the last one, it starts to sound better with every listen. rating: 4 (out of 5) scott mervis post-gazette.com				Album reviews Feature articles Interviews Show reviews