No woman in pop this side of Linda Thompson has as pure and expressive a voice as the great Shelby Lynne.

The singer, who seemed on the cusp of stardom with her I am Shelby Lynne album in 1999, never crossed over and it’s clear some of that disappointment and frustration informs her music, which was always tinged with a world of hurt and betrayal.

Now, it would be too reductive to attribute the melancholy beauty and sense of adult compromise she infuses her new record, Just a Little Lovin' to commercial failure. Despite never breaking out to Carrie Underwood proportions, she has maintained her artistic credibility and has a fierce independent streak, which doesn't make her music the most accessible. Her music has always been stained with conflict and sadness and this obviously doesn't lend itself to mass audiences weaned on fluff.

Lynne is really all about music and creates songs that cut to the heart and core of who we are. Maybe some of her disappointment as a recording artist only heightens the intensity and emotional complexity of her work. No doubt, this new tribute to Dusty Springfield has its eyes on being a commercial breakthrough (and all the advance press she has done proves that) but it’s doubtful it will reach further beyond her devoted audience. It's much too downbeat, contemplative, and musically spare.

The only artist to hit with this kind of music has been Norah Jones and she has been helped by the Starbucks crowd and radio saturation, both of which will probably ignore the much less hyped Lynne. Frankly, who cares?

This is a measured, sweetly rendered set of songs featuring Lynne’s lovely, scarred vocal interpretations. Lynne and her producer, Phil Ramone, do right by the songs in stripping them down to the bare bones musical ensemble of guitar, bass, subtle keyboards and drums. The focus remains that oh-so-vivid and versatile voice.

Her singing here is lovely and lilting when necessary and steely and tough at other times. They slow most of the songs down and even turn a few into a torches.  Some of the brio and stroll Springfield brought to tunes like “I Only Want to be With You” is turned inside out and here the songs are ruminative and searching. Springfield’s pop soul was often glossy and brassy, Lynne’s unvarnished approach makes you rethink these tunes.