JUDITH OWEN – EBB AND FLOW (JAZZ/POP)

Don’t let the sweet and expressive vocals fool you on this Best of 2014 entry. Judith Owen, wife of Harry Shearer, knows how to craft a song. Her original compositions are outstanding. Anguish, betrayal and loss haven’t sounded this good since Linda Thompson’s 2013 release Won’t Be Long Now. But, unlike Thompson, Owen has a distinct 1970s Laurel Canyon-vibe to her music, with hints of jazz. “I Would Give Anything” and “Under Your Door” are so stellar they almost overshadow classics like “In The Summertime” and “Hey Mister, That’s Me Up On the Jukebox.” Ebb and Flow is a treat from start to finish.