*** 1/2 Willi Jones, “Willi Jones,” Geffen.

This knockout debut from a Texan-cum-New Yorker introduces a possibly major talent. Jones sounds like a Southern cross between Maria McKee and Edie Brickell and writes great hooks about hurricanes, the decline of marijuana, the manipulative matriarchy of Southern women, phone sex, Santa Ana winds and--in a randy duet with Willie Dixon--the difficulty of being a five-footer competing for men’s affection with the “Long Legged Goddess” type. Catchy, cocky and terribly tender.