Bonnie Raitt [ tickets ] has made a habit of exposing previously undiscovered songwriting talent, and it appears she's about to do it again with her 18th album, "Souls Alike," the first since 2002's "Silver Lining."

What's different this time is that Raitt produced the record (co-produced by Tchad Blake), and made a conscious effort not to repeat herself with too many--nay, any--signature 12-bar-blues songs.

There are more sultry R&B leanings ("God Was In The Water" and "Trinkets") and some peculiar funk, like the Maia Sharp/David Batteau penned "Crooked Crown." Of course, she finds time to make things swampy with "Unnecessarily Mercenary" and familiar with the resilient first single "I Will Not Be Broken." Raitt's production ear certainly leans towards warmth, as evidenced by the soft edges of "So Close" and the inescapable Steely Dan vibe of "Love On One Condition." (Well, Steely Dan with a honky-tonk piano, anyway.)

But the real champions are the songs themselves, and the writers (like Emory Joseph, Gordon Kennedy, and Wayne Kirkpatrick) with whom Raitt chose to collaborate. In a statement she explained, "I'm as enthusiastic about these guys as I was when I heard people like Jackson Browne and John Prine in my early days." And well she should be.