Tree of Life

Lila Downs\'s sophomore U.S. release sees her take a much more folkloric tack than her debut, delving into the mystical codices of the Mexican Mixtec natives (her ancestry on her mother\'s side)--not that the entire album is made up of ancestral songs. There\'s also \"Nueve Viento,\" a bolero son as rich and satisfying as anything to come out of Buena Vista Social Club. But the heart of this album beats strongest when it\'s barest, making the stark \"Yunu Yucu Ninu\" (which she performed differently on her debut) into an eerie delight. Blessed with a remarkable voice, operatic training, and jazz chops, Downs can cover a lot of territory. \"Tres Pedernal\" recalls the husky Tropicalia of Gal Costa. With its look at native culture and lore, this is a record that delves much deeper than Mexican pop, marking Downs as a serious singer of talent and depth. --Chris Nickson (Amazon)