Beth Hart has made quite a name for herself in the 15-plus years since her single “LA Song (Out of This Town)” gained international recognition and garnered placement on an episode of Beverly Hills 90210. With several songs topping the blues charts, collaborations with both Jeff Beck and Joe Bonamassa, and various Grammy nominations to her credit, Hart’s success seemed assured. On Better Than Home, she makes good on that promise, delivering a veritable tour-de-force that highlights her remarkable prowess as both a singer and a songwriter. Little wonder then that opening track “Might As Well Smile” projects unbridled optimism. (“I woke up this morning/ With a smile on my face/ I threw out those stones/ That stood in my way.”) And while succeeding songs take a more subdued turn, from the troubled tone of “Tell ‘Em to Hold On” to the moving, melodic ballads “St. Teresa” and “Better Than Home,” Hart’s assurance and determination are always evident. When, in the defiant “Tell Her You Belong to Me,” she implores an unfaithful lover to reject her rival’s advances, she remains resolute (“No, she’ll never win/ ‘Cause I’m not giving in…”). Hart’s songs sound like standards, and she makes it clear that she’s a star.