Early on in Beth Orton [ tickets ]'s performing career, reviewers tended to paste the British singer with such labels as "ethereal" and "wispy," even as they praised the overall substance of her work.

Those days are long gone, as Orton proved before a packed house Wednesday night (3/15) at Antone's. The smoky-voiced songstress pounced on stage with a remarkable sense of self-confidence and proceeded to lay down her claim to being one of the best female singer/songwriters of her generation.

The adoring crowd lapped it up, devouring Orton's firm command of her voice and songwriting skills. Backed by a full band, Orton began by showcasing somewhat folksy material from her new, Jim Rourke-produced album, "Comfort of Strangers," seamlessly transitioning from one pretty pop ballad to the next.

After banishing her band from the stage, the singer performed several songs all by herself, playing acoustic guitar. Orton's passionate renditions of a few older favorites thrilled the audience; her command of her own soulful voice has become almost absolute over the years, and her performance on this night was no exception. She is, without a doubt, at the very top of her game right now.

Calling her band back onstage, Orton played a few more new songs, beginning with the surprising "Worms," from her latest album. The angry, forthright tune has caused many reviewers to compare it to Fiona Apple. Orton sang it unapologeticallly, and the adoring crowd responded enthusiastically.