Jill Scott's third studio release, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3, shows an artist whose changes in her life (namely her pending divorce) appear to be as creatively inspiring as her then-new marriage was on her previous release, 2004's Beautifully Human. She's sassier and brassier than ever, especially on the bombastic "Hate On Me," and the distorted guitars only amplify the sass on the title cut. The album's quieter moments, like the lush, sexy "Come See Me" and the unflinchingly sensual "All I," sound sultrier than anything she's had since her debut. An assured effort from an artist who's always worn her heart on her sleeve, and whose music is all the better for it. -dusty culpepper

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