Luka Bloom

It may seem odd for a 50-year-old artist to call his 10th album Innocence, but one listen to Irishman Luka Bloom's wonderful new release will take you back to a place of, well, innocence. Following the path of his older brother, Christy Moore, Bloom has mastered the art of passive reflection on what is. He delivers a thoughtful, emotional and incredibly original product with a clear view of the way things look to the common man.

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On 14 self-penned tracks, Bloom explores a variety of intra- and interpersonal issues, from the challenges facing immigrants ("City of Chicago" and "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are"), aging and loneliness ("Doing the Best I Can") and the state of the world ("I'm Not at War"). His pure voice delivers sensitive and deep messages, without crossing into the dreaded realm of being overly precious. This is music that makes you think, and feel. 4 stars