Those who followed Crystal Bowersox on the ninth season of American Idol learned some of her backstory as a struggling singer growing up in rural Ohio. Her EP Once Upon a Time… offers a glimpse of these early years in unadorned but telling fashion. Accompanied by guitarist Frankie May, she fills these tracks (recorded before her time as an AI contestant) with a blend of vulnerability and inner strength that transcends the barebones nature of the studio setting. Bowersox shows a remarkable confidence in the delivery of her tunes, whether she’s reaching out to an estranged parent (“Mama”) or struggling to escape hard times (“Get Me Out”). The bluesy ambiance of “Slut” and the jazzy seasoning of “Outta My Mind” show her ability to stretch the limits of her folk-country sound. Her willingness to expose her scars and bruises especially comes through on her tender performance of “Baby.” Once Upon a Time… doesn’t take the place of a newly recorded Bowersox project, but anyone curious about her beginnings will find these songs a revelation.