By WAYNE BLEDSOE, Scripps Howard News Service

Lucinda Williams' new album, "Little Honey," is a major departure from her previous album. Overall, it might be called a "feel-good" disc.

Elvis Costello is as unpredictable as life is, and he likes it that way.

Shelby Lynne has always done pretty much exactly what she wants. It's good for her and great for fans of her music.

"I'm not much for going with the grain," says Lynne with a distinctive Alabama drawl. "That's too easy and not me. If something's happening, that gives me a good reason to go in the opposite direction."

For Loudon Wainwright III, writing a good new song has an almost primal reward.