The acoustic bass and guitar create melodies that complement Cassandra Wilson’s soothing voice as she makes classics such as The Band’s “The Weight” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” her own. Her take on “The Weight,” though, comes by way of Aretha Franklin, who charted with it in 1969. Unlike Franklin’s version, which is infused with soul emphasizing religious connotations, Wilson’s version is soft and husky, making one forget about the original moral attachments. Her “Time After Time” is also filtered through another interpreter, Miles Davis, and Wilson picks up the beautiful sadness he found in the song.

Throughout the album, Wilson embraces pop’s fascination with love, reminding listeners of its challenges and challenging herself in the process. She is at her best with “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” “Harvest Moon,” and “Last Train to Clarksville,” treating each as equally significant, equally revelatory and equally valuable.