Kieran Kane, “Find My Way Home”; <i> Atlantic</i>

If they gave prison sentences for artistic crimes, someone would be doing time for the 1992 breakup of the O’Kanes, the country duo that was one of the freshest additions to the country scene in years. Following two moderately successful albums, their third was an artistic breakthrough--among the best of the ‘90s--but a commercial flop. All support for the O’Kanes suddenly vanished.

The good news is, both members--Kieran Kane and Jamie O’Hara--are embarking on solo careers, potentially giving O’Kanes fans double the pleasure. Kane’s solo debut certainly provides reason to celebrate. He carries over the same bluegrass-in flected acoustic sound the O’Kanes favored, and his songwriting is as lean and virtually cliche-free as ever.

His slightly smoky voice lends an appropriately gritty edge to his tales of characters who are struggling to be better than they often are, to reconcile their actions with their intentions.

Kane chooses words carefully, builds phrases deliberately. The attention to song craft is rare in any field of pop, but it stands out dramatically against the tide of drek that gushes from Nashville song factories where, ironically, Kane once toiled.

We can only hope Kane will fare better minus the O’.