In Spite Of Ourselves

By RICHARD CORLISS

Country music is lonely work. A man stares out his pickup window and wonders how love could abandon him with such ease and finality. So Prine, who knows a bit about hurt--he has recently survived cancer of the neck--has called on a few good women (including Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams) to join him in no-frills, no-foolin' duets on 15 country chestnuts. The one new song is Prine's own title tune, a funny, grimy anthem for two misfits who suit each other fine. It says even driving himself to hell, he ought to be able to find some indulgent lady to occupy the passenger seat.

--R.C.