Merchants and thieves

Having almost had her career destroyed by her own hand when she penned the inescapable 'I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair),' it seems there's life in the (not so) old girl yet. Certainly, her third record Merchants And Thieves is a bit of a revelation. Going bluegrass, her new sound is a million miles removed from her over-saturated debut single and it really suits her smoky voice. Album opener 'Maggie McCall,' 'Heart Of Stone' and the utterly mesmerizing 'Gold Dust,' all push the right buttons, effortlessly proving her change of direction is a stroke of genius. Sandi has never sounded as vital as she does now. Just don't call it a comeback.