This 23-year-old Alaska-reared artist barbs her song hooks with bluesy riffs and sweetens them with pangs of nostalgia. McCormick knows how to flex her biceps as well as expose her heart — the slinky “Shiver” and the roaring “Addiction” are bare-knuckle rockers of the first order. She tempers her hard edge with jazzy chords (“Things Change”) and buoyant country-pop melodies (“Do Right”). Lyrically, McCormick lives up to her album’s title by admitting her flaws, especially in romantic matters. “Wreck (I Could Change)” and the title tune are poignant expressions of longing and remorse. The hard-throbbing “Pick Up the Phone” channels her lovelorn confusion in a more aggressive direction. McCormick’s vocals are gritty on the uptempo tracks and caressing on the ballads, suggesting k.d. lang in their softer moments. Honest Words benefits from brawny, uncluttered production from studio veteran Dave O’Donnell (of John Mayer and Joss Stone renown). McCormick talks straight and plays with conviction on this impressive first outing, deserving attention from rock, folk and country fans alike.