Jill Sobule is the American troubadour of character and place. Her songs are full of irony and humor, and many of them pull back the curtain on our social hypocrisies. We love her for all these things. Jill is also an avid Cultural Weekly reader, and even sang at our holiday party, for which we love her even more.

Jill’s brilliant new work, Dottie’s Charms, reinvents the concept album. A few years ago, Jill got an old-fashioned charm bracelet for a birthday present. As she wore it, she got inspired. If each charm were a song, what would it be?

Jill reached out to some her favorite writers: David Hajdu, Jonathan Lethem, Sam Lipsyte, James Marcus, Sara Marcus, Nina Mehta, Rick Moody, Mary Jo Salter, Luc Sante, and Vendela Vida. Would they write lyrics, each inspired by one of the charms?

Indeed they were, and they did. The resulting album is a new direction for Jill–deeper, more understanding, infused with the wry acceptance of what life brings us. Jill has matured to a greater level of her art; she charms us all.

Click here to order on iTunes instantly: Dottie’s Charms – Jill Sobule

O Canada from Dottie’s Charms by Jill Sobule

O CANADA by Jill Sobule directed by Sara Zandieh on Vimeo.

Cover art by Molly Crabapple.