Ralph Stanley
"A Mother's Prayer" 4 stars
Rebel Records 
Don't recognize how he does it, but Ralph Stanley keeps finding albums' worth of amazing bluegrass gospel tunes that we haven't heard hundreds of times before; must be one of the reasons why they call him the Doctor. It also sounds like these beautiful spirituals have a revival effect on the mass music giant's raspy, 84-year-old pipes.
He's been singing like death warmed over for years now, but "Mother's Prayer" is pronounced by soaring harmonies and the sweetest a cappella readings. The circle is gently virtuosic, the passion and heart that suffuses the whole project palpable - even on its one well-known, apocalyptic chestnut, "John the Revelator." If this ain't the background music in heaven, I don't love what would be. Robyn Ludwick
"Out of These Blues" 3 stars
Late Show Records 
With her carefully crafted lyrics sung in an aching, Hill Country drawl, Ludwick is a fine addition to the Texas troubadour pantheon. It took her awhile to put pen to composition and fingers to guitar, perhaps due to reluctance to get roped into the home business (Bruce and Charlie Robison are brothers). But the Lone Star music obviously isn't concerned with nepotism; Gurf Morlix produced this album and Slaid Cleaves sings harmony. Kind of rock, blue-eyed soulful, more than a small country, a flash of Cajun flavoring - all laced together by Ludwick's commitment to every feeling she chooses to explore. Colin Hay
Gathering Mercury 3 stars
Compass Records 
Hay's latest album, somewhat inspired by his father's death, is a decent enough example of poppy production that doesn't completely overcome the core focus and feelings of the cuts. Even better is the special edition deluxe version, which includes four "stripped" mixes of about of the collection's best songs, and they go so much better simplified. Reportedly a hilarious as easily as a moving live performer, Hay will work a benefit show for the MusiCares charity Wednesday at Largo at the Coronet on La Cienega Boulevard.
Bob Strauss Daily News
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