Pam’s first album of new material in six years is a far cry from her last. On 2001’s Thunder and Roses, she tried with middling success to adapt to the changing radio landscape. On Rhinestoned, her first effort on her own Stellar Cat label, she simply picks (and writes) terrific songs, surrounds herself with stellar players and sings her ever-lovin’ heart out. The results speak eloquently for themselves: Rhinestoned is a mature and moving work filled with honesty, tenderness and soul. It’s a thoroughly thrilling reintroduction to an artist who has made herself far too scarce lately.