Record Rack

** 1/2 Tracy Chapman, “Telling Stories,” Elektra. Collaborating with producer David Kershenbaum, who worked on her first two albums, Chapman (who plays April 18 at the Wiltern Theatre) offers a collection of spare, graceful, guitar-driven songs that emphasize her warm but gritty vocals and thoughtful, compassionate lyrics. There are no epiphanies here, but tunes such as the haunting “Speak the Word” and the forthright “Nothing Yet” will affirm and enhance the singer-songwriter’s reputation as an artist with unmistakable chops, class and conviction.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.