Before Ellen came out and anyone who wasn't a Bible scholar knew who Lilith was – before Jewel, even – there was Janis Ian. Gay, earnest and a superb singer, songwriter and guitarist, Ian kept the folk-pop faith through the long years during which her sound was out of fashion. Now the times again have come around to her, and, as Hunger eloquently demonstrates, lan is still there, crafting carefully observed portraits of people pressed hard by personal and social struggles. Ani Di-Franco produced the haunted "Searching for America," but Ian effortlessly summons her own magic on the lovely ballad "Getting Over You" and the funny, pointed "Welcome to Acousticville." Ian still feels the hunger and, no doubt, will continue to, whether or not she gets the recognition she deserves for this fine album and all she's done before. (RS 772)

ANTHONY DECURTIS