Listen to singer/songwriter Shannon McNally's debut album, Jukebox Sparrows, and you get the feeling she's not new.

And it isn't in a bad she-sounds-like-everyone-else kind of way, even though her sultry voice is reminiscent of seventies songster Stevie Nicks and her singing style could rival the bluesy crooning of Bonnie Raitt.

It's because McNally exhibits a timeless sound in her compositions and a restrained maturity in her vocals that make it hard to believe this is her first attempt at spawning a full-length album.

In a mature debut on Capitol Records, McNally's ageless sound reverberates through much of the 11-track album, proving that, while she might never be mainstream, her talent is certainly here to stay.

With songwriting that mimics folksy storytelling, bluesy singing coupled with some jazzy instrumentation, and a drop of some pop-inspired background vocals mixed with rhythmic bass lines, Jukebox Sparrows is a thoughtfully produced fusion of styles, influences and sounds. Think the deep, warm vocals of Fiona Apple, minus the whining.

The album starts out with "Down and Dirty," a song with a gentle, soulful seventies feel and a Fleetwood Mac beat, and the second track, "I'll Always Be Around," is a mix of choppy instrumentation and an easy drum beat fused together by heartfelt vocals.

These first two tracks warm the listener up for "Bitter Blue," a lively, upbeat tune with probably the biggest pop feel on the album. But, as quick as she speeds up on "Bitter Blue," McNally showcases her ability to mellow out with "Now That I Know," a mid-tempo tune with a complicated acoustic touch and effortless vocals that pick you up and carry you through.

Other highlights come on "It Could've Been Me," a vocal-driven narrative that displays this young songwriter's raw talent, and "Bolder Than Paradise," which blends shakers and steel guitar for a bluesy sound.

On the softer side, "Bury My Heart on the Jersey Shore" is an easygoing song with a sha-la-la hook that makes it catchy from the get-go.

Even though it gets busy around the chorus, the instrumentals and background vocals fade on each verse to help the song narrowly avoid musical overload.

The lyrics are also a little dramatic, but that's forgiven when the New York native's roots are brought into account, turning it into an honest composition about an appreciated locale.

Still, Jukebox Sparrows is not a flawless recording through all 11 tracks. "Colorado," a slow, spacey song with an eerie feel, definitely lulls and drags.

And the album's namesake is nothing more than spoken word set to a bass and drums.

But, overall, the album is a strong debut from a solo artist backed by an incredible cast of musicians. It's also produced and mixed in an intelligent manner, with vocals layered in all the right places, and McNally's powerful voice blending nearly perfectly with the instrumentation.

And that's important for someone with such a strong, throaty sound.

Somehow, McNally always avoids over-singing, relying on the fact that part of the power of her music seems to be the effortless muscle of her emotion-driven vocals.

Her tone actually borders on conversational — it's like she could just as easily be talking to you.

And, most likely, that's because McNally is the type of artist who sings from the soul. She makes you feel her songs, yet you never get the sense she's singing to the music.

It's more like the music is playing to her voice.