Any artist capable of writing a song that makes Lucinda Williams cry is certainly worth your time. Kasey Chambers, a beautiful country-rocker, already accomplished this feat with her debut record and has returned for more with her sophomore release, Barricades and Brickwalls.

Since her debut, The Captain, propelled her to superstardom in her native Australia and garnered high praise from Steve Earle and David Letterman (who has great musical taste, by the way), Chambers, 25, has done some growing up.

She wrote the new collection of songs was written in her 20s and shows remarkable growth from the teen-age angst displayed on her debut.

The title track has that loud, angry, “Changed the Locks” feel to it, featuring her boldest lyrics to date. “Iron bars and big ol’ cars won’t run me out of town/I’ll be damned if you’re not my man before the sun goes down,” she sings.

It’s certainly her most rocking moment to date.

Her fragile, crackly voice sounds uncharacteristically authoritative on this album.

The aforementioned Williams was so hooked on Chambers last year, she provided backing vocals during “On A Bad Day.”

Like Laura Cantrell, songs like this display Chambers’ knack for making sad songs sound so reassuring.

Most impressive is the way she handles the Gram Parson composition, “Still Feeling Blue,” in moving tribute to her father. “Since you walked out of my life I never felt so low,” she sings above Buddy Miller’s gorgeous harmonies.

Much of Barricades and Brickwalls is quite obvious, and sometimes even boring, but youthful charm ultimately prevails.

Kasey Chambers has emerged as a great young country artist whose latest collection of rootsy country pop has the possibility of being this year’s grower, getting better with every listen.

Grade: A