Letter-perfect but coursing with blood, and comfortable as an old pair of shoes. And like the Ray Charles album to which it pays homage, it reinvents everything it touches.

Renowned for her interpretive song skills, the vocalist followed her creative muse on 2009’s “Bare Bones” by challenging herself to write a full album of her own compositions.

Madeleine Peyroux’s fourth album isn’t the normal mix of standards with a few songs of her own composing; each of the 11 tracks is a new song written by Peyroux, usually in tandem with producer Larry Klein or a guest.

This time around, Peyroux focuses primarily on songs written by artists from her lifetime, including Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Fred Neil.

With the release of her long awaited second album, Careless Love, Peyroux’s potential as an artist is truly realized.

Madeleine’s debut album from 1996 offers a wide variety of swing standards, originals, and hints of country and folk music.