Sheryl Crow: “Detours”
PERFORMER: Sheryl Crow (www.sherylcrow.com)
CD: “Detours” (A&M)
Surrounded by success and drama, Sheryl Crow’s career has been anything but boring. Now, emerging from major changes in her life — a battle with breast cancer, more relationship struggles and adopting a son — the outspoken singer has created her freshest record in years. Once again working with former producer Bill Bottrell, “Detours” sounds every bit as fresh as “Tuesday Night Music Club,” with all its melodic hooks, quirky pop flourishes and charm.
The disc opens with the solo acoustic “God Bless This Mess,” acknowledging and celebrating an imperfect world, and ping-pongs between produced pop numbers, near-acoustic ballads and pared-down Beatlesque anthems like “Love is Free” and “Out of Our Heads.”
Both “Peace Be Upon Us” and “Gasoline” recall earlier hits and capitalize on her knack for penning simple, catchy chorus lines — not to mention timely topics.
While Bottrell’s production is always front and center — and never misses the mark (check out “Love is All There Is”) — it also never overshadows the songs, which are all strong and singular enough to stand on their own. In fact, with little more than Crow’s voice and an acoustic guitar, the title track stands out as one of Crow’s most passionate, heartfelt statements.
– By Michael Lipton
