Sirens is S. J. Tucker's fifth album, and it shows. There is a growth here, through most of the tracks, showing her experience and skill as it edges up another notch. Her mix of folk and whatever else happens to be at hand (no seriously, we'll get there) lends itself to an album full of surprises.

Instead of relying solely on her more than capable acoustic guitar work, Tucker brings in a few people to help out on this one. Kenny Sharretts brings in some drums on one track while Betsy Tinney adds some wonderful cello work on another. A dash of mandolin from Joe Credit III and some bodhran by Celia fill out a diverse guest list.

Which is not to say that Tucker's guitar work needs accompaniment. As always, she is more than willing to fill a track with nothing more than guitar and vocals. Luckily, she can fill the bill needed easily at this point. Her voice, as always, is probably the strongest instrument on the entire album. She wields it carefully, from a silken purr all the way through to a rough beerhouse growl. She can let a smirk into one line and a scowl into the next without hesitating, and it simply doesn't break stride.

Her guitar provides melody and fill for her voice, granting it something to come home to. No matter where a note may lead her, her solid guitar work gives her a place to return to and launch back into the sky from.

All of this combines to give the proceedings a solid groundwork for the heart of every song, her lyrics. S. J. Tucker is known for her poetic and lush story songs, and she's become known for them for a very good reason: she excels at them. This isn't three minute pop or even three minute folk, it's storytelling, and that's something that too many songwriters seem to shy away from.

Which is, I suppose, understandable. You have to listen to a good story song. It demands attention above a lot of other things. But if you give her your time you won't walk away feeling like you came out anything but ahead of the game. The songs stay with you, burrowing into your brain and setting up camp.

The first time I ever saw S. J. Tucker live (which was also the first time I ever heard her music, mind you) she played a song she hadn't recorded yet. The song stayed with me perfectly for a year until she released a CD with it as a track ("Pixie Can't Sleep" off of Tangles for the record). When I finally got the CD and heard the song, I still knew the lyrics by heart. You can't rightfully say that about too many artists these days.

Which is not to say that Sirens is perfect. The opening song, "The Drowning" is a great vocal only track and would work wonderfully as an album opener, normally. My problem came when the next song, "Go Away Godboy," was her first real foray into rock. The backing drums, the strong forceful feel of the entire song -- it was something brand new from her, and "The Drowning" just doesn't lead into it smoothly for me some days. "Lady Vagabond," which comes third, is very classically Tucker's work -- a strong, thick song full of emotion and power. But it is so very different from both the songs that came before it made me feel slightly jarred at first.

Not that I have a better idea. Both "The Drowning" and "Go Away Godboy" are great songs that deserve places here. I just don't know which place that would be. Also, and this might be my pressing, I don't know, "Go Away Godboy" was recorded softer than anything else on the album, which frustrates me since it should easily be the loudest thing Tucker has ever done. Not sure what happened there.

But really, when those are the biggest flaws I can feel in an album that contains not only a tango but a three part song about Wendy (You know, Wendy. Peter Pan? That Wendy.) that always makes me grin, things are more than fine.

So really I need to recommend this one. You can buy it at skinnywhitechick.com as well as keep up with Tucker, her tours and so on. If you've never heard S. J. Tucker, go to the site and download some clips. You won't regret it. If you know her work, then I'm fairly sure Sirens is in your house or on your list.

That's just the way it works. Now go forth and give listen.