The lineup also shifted the emphasis from the emotional directness of blues singing to the technical display of instrumental solos.

Ms. Leonard's restorative act is startling in its emotional directness: not an ounce of irony or guile.

But it all has a distinctive formal clarity and emotional directness that goes far beyond promise.

To this ballooning optimism Elbow bring graceful celebrations of love and friendship and an emotional directness that floors you.

Ms. Simon's songwriting strengths have always been an unguarded emotional directness and a gift for bluntly catchy tunes.

Listening to Mr. Ruiz's music, one is impressed not so much by the depth of his historical understanding as by the music's emotional directness.

Her photographic work has a distinctive formal clarity and emotional directness.

At its best, as in the Gavotte and Gigue, the music had a powerful emotional directness and an appealing muscularity.

The movie has the streamlined energy and emotional directness of a modern country-rock ballad.

Mr. Kyr, for his part, wrote of the inspiration he had found in "the emotional directness and intensity" of the group's music-making.