“Little Acts of Treason” (Giant) — Carlene Carter

Carter is genetically country. As the third generation of the Carter family, the daughter of Carl Smith and June Carter Cash and the stepdaughter of Johnny Cash, it’s in her blood.

She’s distilled what she’s learned through years of performing and recorded it on her latest album. And once again she proves that while she’s a little bit country, she’s a whole lot of rock ‘n’ roll. Unfortunately, not all traditional country fans have forgiven her for her dalliance as a rocker in the ’80s.

“Litte Acts of Treason” presents a more introspective Carter. On songs such as the title cut, “Change,” and “The Lucky Ones,” she takes a long, hard look inward at bad habits, wasted years and missed opportunities.

That’s not to say the fun-loving woman with a sassy attitude from the albums “I Fell in Love” and “Little Love Letters” has disappeared. No, far from it.

In fact, the four up-tempo tunes Carter co-wrote with Al Anderson of NRBQ are among the album’s best. “Hurricane” tells the story of a woman who knows who she wants and how she plans to get him. “All Night Long” is about making up for an indiscretion in a big way. “Go Wild” tells of a woman on the prowl for a new man.

Carter also explores her roots on two cuts. She teams with her father on a rollicking version of his No. 1 hit of 1954, “Loose Talk.”

She also brings soulful new life to the 1932 Carter family chestnut “Winding Steam,” backed up by her mother, her aunts, Helen and Anita, and her daughter, Tiffany.

Carter took firmer control on “Little Acts of Treason.” Her previous two albums were produced by her longtime beau, Howie Epstein of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. But this time, Carter co-produced the album with Giant Records President James Stroud.

The upshot is that this is her most personal album, one that lets the listener better appreciate all her many facets.

“Little Acts of Treason” brings forth a Carlene Carter that’s not easy to categorize or pigeonhole. Instead, it shows a warm, complex performer deserving of more critical and fan appreciation.