Palms & Runes, Tarot & Tea: A Michael Penn Collection CD

Although his first album came out in 1989, a combination of bad luck with record companies and his own resistance to being rushed has meant that Michael Penn released only four more albums in the 18 years that followed the highly praised MARCH. Five albums isn't a lot for a standard-issue best-of, so the imaginative PALMS & RUNES, TAROTS AND TEA: A MICHAEL PENN COLLECTION splits the difference. Twelve of the album's 20 songs are the familiar versions, including his biggest hit "No Myth," and fan favorites "Bucket Brigade" and "Walter Reed." The rest are alternate takes, demos, and newly minted re-recordings, all of which strip the songs of some of the too-slick production that has been an occasional problem with Penn's albums. Overall, this collection proves what a consistently strong, imaginative singer-songwriter Michael Penn has been over the course of his career.

Personnel: Michael Penn (bass instrument); Chuckois "Safe" Sexton (guitar); Julian Coryell (slide guitar); Dean Coleman (electric cello); Peter Bradley Adams (accordion); Dave Palmer (piano); Patrick Warren (chamberlin); Brenden O'Brien, Jimmy Haslip (bass instrument); D.J. Bonebrake, Dan McCarroll, Danny Frankel, Jim Keltner, Victor Indrizzo, Butch (drums); Art Wood (percussion); Gurf Morlix, Steven Soles, Chris Hickey, Buddy Judge (background vocals).