On this CD recorded at various shows, Ruthie Foster is a folkie at heart, but she meshes various styles and nuances into each song, beginning with the short but pleasing tango-like intro to the powerful and soulful Ocean of Tears. The song glides along gracefully as Foster's earthy delivery fuels the slightly Latin textures, with assistance from partner Cyd Cassone on percussion. Foster's uplifting and spiritual approach often keeps original acoustic folk tunes like Crossover flowing effortlessly. "This is something I wrote in a Sam Cooke style," she says before starting Another Rain Song with more of a bluesy folk approach with minimal instrumentation. The first of several highlights comes during a give-and-take effort on the reggae-tinged and melodic Real Love. The singer takes things down somewhat with a jazzy cover of Billie Holiday's God Bless the Child, with mixed results at best. The stellar Death Came a Knockin' (Travelin' Shoes) is also simple but quite pleasing. Perhaps the sleeper picks come in the second half, as Prayin' for Rain and Get Out of My Way have a dreamy folk-pop aura in the vein of a sparse Melissa Etheridge. There are a few anecdotes included as Foster mentions how people often think she's Tracy Chapman when they first hear her. The interaction between Foster and the crowd also shines on the rambling Church, which isn't so much a song as a description of Foster growing up in a Baptist church atmosphere. And by the time you listen to her version of Stephen Foster's Oh! Susannah, you realize that Foster will be doing this brand of folk quite well for quite a long time. ~ Jason MacNeil, Rovi

1		Ocean Of Tears
2		Crossover
3		Another Rain Song
4		Real Love
5		God Bless the Child
6		Turn Me on
7		Death Came a Knockin'
8		Get Out of My Way
9		Lost in the City
10		Prayin' for Rain
11		Church
12		Walk On
13		Oh! Susannah
14		Full Circle

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