Nikka Costa

Nikka is a veteran of this blue-eyed retro-soul game, and don't you forget it. Released on her own Go Funk Yourself label (in conjunction with Stax), Pebble to a Pearl grooves harder -- to the ear and from the heart -- than lead single "Stuck to You." The title track is a Chaka Khan-tinged funk workout with an uplifting message: shine on! The bruised-but-not-broken "Someone for Everyone" is best paired with red wine and a box of tissues. "Cry Baby" is as icy as it wants to be: "Go ahead and cry baby, cry baby all night long / 'cause I need a little something to make me feel better."