Robert Baird

<I><B>3121</B></I><BR>
Universal

<I><B>Lotta Love Concert</B></I><BR>
Rhino

<B>NEKO CASE: <I>Fox Confessor Brings the Flood</I></B><BR>
Anti 86777 (CD). 2006. Neko Case, Darryl Neudorf, prods.; Craig Schumacher, Chris Schultz, engs. AAD. TT: 34:55<BR>
Performance ****&#189;<BR>
Sonics ****

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS: <I>Electric Blue Watermelon</I><BR>
ATO (According To Our) Records 0026 (CD). 2005. Jim Dickinson, prod.; Roland Janes, Pete Matthews, Kevin Houston, engs. AAD? TT: 49:23<BR>
Performance <B>****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>

<B>JOHN PRINE: <I>Fair & Square</I></B><BR>
Oh Boy OBR-034 (CD). 2005. John Prine, prod.; Gary Paczosa, prod., eng.; Thomas<BR>
Johnson, Brandon Bell, asst. engs. AAD? TT: 62:16<BR>
Performance ****&#189;<BR>
Sonics ****&#189;

<B>REN&#201;E FLEMING: <I>Haunted Heart</I></B><BR>
Ren&#233;e Fleming, vocals; Bill Frisell, guitar; Fred Hersch, piano, arrangements<BR>
Decca B00004406-02 (CD). 2005. Ren&#233;e Fleming, prod.; Elliott Scheiner, prod., eng.; Peter Doris, Aya Takemura, Brian Montgomery, Anthony Ruotolo, asst. engs. DDD. TT: 63:58<BR>
Performance <B>*****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>

Please let me explain. Because I've never been especially adept at making lifelong commitments and irrevocable decisions, when it came to naming this new column, Managing Editor Debbie Starr and I decided that we would gather the passionate (and supremely efficient) minds of the Stereophile production staff, add a near–life-threatening amount of margaritas, and put the question to them.