While most of her work is a bit more "pop" than my usual choices, here's what I really admire about Eddi: her own story and her willingness to delve into--even relearn--a bit of her own musical/cultural heritage, and then to share what she's still--by self-profession--in the process of learning.

I tend to gravitate towards music that presents the stories/experience of Common Folk in all their unvarnished, rough-edged pain and sorrow and passion and glory. Sometimes I hear a hint of that in Eddi's music, and I think some of her Robert Burns interpretations offer much more than a hint. What frustrates me about her recordings is that I find that hint of raw passion and soulful singing so tantilizing that it leaves me hungry for more without offering quite enough to satiate that hunger.

I applaud her recent collaborations with folk artists and hope to hear more of her unplugged/unpacked efforts in years to come.