John Prine

In 2000, Prine went back through his cataloge and re-recorded this set of his most famous numbers. While Souveniers may be seen as something of a greatest hits collection, his voice has aged so much that it's almost like some of this material needed the 30-odd years to pass in order for him to sing it right. The originals certainly have their merit, but these new takes will make any longtime fan sit up and take notice. Even the "happy" ones can be tough on you. Prine sounds alternately wise, gentle and utterly worn down.