Better late than never, the saying goes, and the saying is certainly true for Rufus Wainwright with his latest release. Milwaukee At Last!!! captures a 2007 performance by Wainwright at the Pabst Theatre in, you guessed it, Milwaukee. Two years later, the project has finally seen the light of day, just in time to capitalize on Wainwright's increased visibility (due to the premiere of his first opera) and perhaps to tide his fans over while he steps back into the studio to record his follow-up album to 2007's moderately successful Release the Stars.

Digby, perhaps best known for her acoustic cover of Umbrella, delivers a collection of thirteen pop songs here on her second domestic album. Breathing Underwater is, when you get down to it, a refreshing listen in the face of the rest of what garners attention in the pop world. Her lyrics have a level of depth and creativity that is usually missing in the whole mass-produced pop-music scene.

High Wide & Handsome is a 30-song walk through traditional Americana as well as newly-composed songs by Wainwright and company, written from Poole's perspective (including the title track).

This CD brings together two things that I have perhaps a bit of an irrational soft spot for: Ben Folds and his quirky piano rock, and college a cappella groups.