But the 15-song CD is much more than a straight country album. James does indeed cover that genre on tunes such as the cryin'-in-your-beer lament “Straight to Hell” and the country rocking title track, but she's versatile enough to be comfortable in acoustic Americana styles, minor key blues, story songs, straight-ahead rockers and, surprisingly enough, even Latin jazz on a tune called “Cheetah on the Run.”

On this CD, recorded at Cotati's Prairie Sun studios, James surrounds her rough but relaxed vocals and resonator guitar with expert playing by some of the North Bay's finest musicians — pedal steel legend Bobby Black, fiddle ace Woody Vermiere, Ed Roth on accordion and piano, guitarists Ian Lamson and David

Audio: Natasha James - If You Think This is Love

Aguilar, drummer Ronnie Rivera, percussionists Rafael Padilla and Danilo Paiz and Marin's Steve Evans on bass. Kerry Daly adds background vocals.

“Tequila Time” is the follow to her acclaimed debut album, “Bad Judgments.” She had an Americana hit with the single “The Restless Kind” on that album, and follows it with the new single “If You Think This is Love,” a mid-tempo blues rocker with a stick-in-your head guitar lick. On “Boy Do We Drink,” “Somebody Just Blew It,” “Fillin' Station” and “Stuck in Atlanta,” James shows that she's been around the block, still has a sense of humor about it all and can write about universal themes of love

Advertisement
and loss without resorting to tired tropes and country cliches.

This is a mature singer-songwriter at the peak of her powers who reminds me of Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi, but has a style all her own. With “Tequila Time,” James just might break into the pop music mainstream.

Buy it: “Tequila Time,” Natasha James, Highway One Records, iTunes; $9.99

See her: Natasha James performs at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at Rancho Nicasio, 1 Old Rancheria Road, Nicasio; 662-2219 or www.ranchonicasio.com; $10 to $12.

Tell us about your band! If you're a musician or band from Marin or Sonoma with a recording that readers can buy or download, send your CD and contact information (if you have an upcoming gig, let us know that, too) to Press Play, P.O. Box 6150, Novato 94948-6150.