Girls will be girls

With their ninth studio album, All That We Let In, Indigo Girls have made a beautifully simple record. But fear not -- the Girls' trademark emotion, earnestness and depth is here in full force. The duo's rootsy sound and sweatpants-comfortable harmonies meld, as always, on an album which serves up another hefty helping of vintage Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. \nWhile all the songs are wonderfully folksy and introspective, two stand out. "Heartache for Everyone" is a nice little ska number which features a scorching recorder solo. "Dairy Queen," a simple break-up song, is a nice, poignant look at love lost. The activist anthem "Cordova," while not a favorite, is nice in showing the Girls haven't lost their fiery political spirit.\nThe album also brings in some impressive guest talent. Joan Osborne, who is apparently alive and well, brings some dark earthy vocals to the strangely electric "Tether." Cellist David Henry, who also appears on Butterfly Boucher's first album, serves to make "Come On Home" one of the deepest, warmest pieces on the album.\nThough the Girls continue in their familiar vein, the new songs show they have the talent to produce their classic sound without sounding stale.