Album Review
Shelby Lynne
Identity Crisis
Capitol Records
Purchase The Album
Shelby Lynne won a Grammy for Best New Artist after numerous albums and about a decade of touring based off the quality of her phenomenal record I Am Shelby Lynne. It’s a rare album fill of soulful tunes which really sounds like nothing else out there. Then she followed up that release with Love, Shelby, a pop-rock record produced by Glen Ballard (famous for his work with Alanis Morissette and others). That album was pretty much a commercial failure and left Shelby without a record label. She went home and spent some time laying low and out of the public eye slowing piecing together an old fashioned analog home studio, teaching herself how to use it and writing songs without the influence of a record label. The end result is Identity Crisis, an incredibly versatile collection of songs record in a raw fashion which is truly a joy to hear.
The debut single “Telephone” sets the tone for much of the album. The lazy acoustic strumming allows Shelby’s voice to shine and the story about calling an ex only to realize that you didn’t really want to talk to them is one everyone can relate to. The gospel flavored “10 Rocks” combined with the bleak story make for an interesting song that you can’t get out of your head. “Evil Man” with its raw, distorted electric guitar makes you think of an old Elvis tune. The soaring “Lonesome” sounds like something right out of a Patsy Cline record.
“Gotta Be Better” brings out a little more of Lynne’s rock and roll side. The ballad “If I Were Smart” is one of the most depressing songs in recent memory but you can’t turn away from the emotional performance. “Buttons and Beaus” is certainly something that’s not going to be heard on radio anytime soon with its harsh story, yet it’s still an addictive listen. Identity Crisis is constantly a heavy record yet that’s the same thing that makes it such a stunning album. It’s a recording with real emotional guts which is something so sorely lacking in the country genre right now.
The album might be called Identity Crisis but Shelby Lynne has finally found her voice. After years of albums swinging wildly back and forth across different musical styles she’s found a home in this stripped down setting. It shows the kind of magic that can happen when record labels stay out of the way and let an artist be creative without any worries. This is the alt. country album of the year, hands down.
Album Review by Jeff Krasky
The WOC Rating Scale |
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The album stands above the rest. This is a record that every country music fan needs to have in their collection. This album is better than the average release. A strong record with some flaws that keep it from reaching that 5 star level. This album is an average country release. Doesn't posses qualities that make it stand out among all the other albums out there. A weak record that lacks solid songs or good vocal performances. Sample before you buy. This record is a bargin-bin reject that just isn't worth the time or the money. Completely misses the mark. |