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Amazon.com: Shelby Lynne wrote, sang, produced, and played all the guitar parts on her mellow, moody, and sonically stripped-down eighth album, Identity Crisis. Surely the title ironically refers to Lynne's eclectic career itself rather than this slow-burning, excellent album, with its lyrics so personal and honest, one feels like a voyeur at times. Identity sounds like a living room session; the demos made for the big album before the hot-shot producer came in and ruined everything. Lynne's voice is as relaxed, assured, and richly emotive as ever, buoyed by acoustic bass and guitars, electric piano, and minimal percussion. Notable deviations from the candlelit vibe include the mid-tempo rocker "Gotta Be Better" (which sounds like PJ Harvey jamming with X), the gospel chorus that peaks through on "10 Rocks" (the record's sole hokey tune), and of course "Lonesome" (a gorgeous old school Nashville-sheen tune that expertly evokes Patsy and Kitty with multi-tracked vocals and sweeping strings). The story goes that a lengthy phone conversation with Willie Nelson led to the lovely, uplifting last tune, "One With The Sun." Which is cool, because if this album is reminiscent of anybody, it's Nelson ca. Red Headed Stranger --Mike McGonigal
Customer Reviews:
- Shelby is an absolute treasure.......: ....and this MAY be the best thing she's ever done. May...I said the same about "Temptation". "Identity Crisis", indeed...the album jackets over the years are pretty, not pretty, sexy-sultry ["Temptation"], and just plain sexy-wow [Love, Shelby]. The music has been county, rock, pop, jazz, and hard to classify. If the looks have been different, and the music of variable genre, the voice has always been flat-out gorgeous...clear, powerful, easily understood. I'm no country fan, but this voice is a must-hear, regardless........
...which brings us to the issue at hand. Shelby the blues singer. Well, why not? The girl can do EVERYTHING to perfection. [If she ever tries Opera...oh well, everybody has limits, and rare, indeed, are the Opera singers who are worth hearing in anything else]. This is an absolurely fabulous album...from the opening "Telephone", it pulls you straight thru...all 12 cuts add up to 40' of perfection. The two songs which remind us that Shelby is country are "10 Rocks" and "Lonesome", with the second named having a slight big band touch. "Gotta Be Better" lets us hear Shelby-the -rocker, while the pure-blues "Evil Man" and "Buttons And Beaus" are two of the finest songs I've heard Shelby do. Ever.
Shelby is pure joy. That she's pretty, and sings lots of different music is simply icing on the cake. [That sentence could apply to her sister Allison Moorer, too; must be genetic]. You need to allow for the fact that I'm obviously hooked on her, but do not fail to grab this record...five stars are way too few. - Variety and Excellence : The first four superb cuts of Identity Crisis fairly showcase the musical breadth of what Shelby Lynne is about here. Telephone is a rueful bluesy swagger. 10 Rocks uses a gospel chorus to chronicle permanent loss. If I Were Smart is a ballad on the perils of the heart, and the rousing Gotta Be Better in its arrangement if not its lyrics maintains that things can brighten, but maybe only on the other side. Later in the CD, Lonesome is a country weeper that Patsy Cline would have been proud to own. Thematically, though, while it has its occasional moments of peace and rest (I Will Stay, Baby and the beautiful final cut One With the Sun), Identity Crisis mostly showcases relationships in decline or failure. You don't want to be there in all this hurt, but Shelby Lynne makes it a thing of rare beauty.
- Comes across as anything but an identity crisis: Identity Crisis comes across as anything but an identity crisis, instead finding Shelby Lynne in top form, focused, and sounding great. OK, maybe the crisis here is that Ms. Lynne runs the gamut from raging rock `n roll to laid back introspection and whatever else lies in between.
Her voice is strong and clear, and her accompanying crew of musicians is clearly on board with her vibe and vision.
I cannot see any value in offering a play-by-play recap of the songs here: just take the time to give this one a few listens and you can supply your own adjectives. Most of them will be quite positive, I suspect.
- Treasure-Trove: "Identity Crisis" is a good set from Shelby Lynne. The diversity of musical approaches makes the title appropriate. "Gotta Be Better" is an excellent track with some blazing electric lead that lashes the speakers & Lynne's infectious vocals, "And did you ever think you'd ever walk on hallow ground? Don't you like to think that things are lost & never found? Discover all the secrets & head out for the sound. Did you hear the voice that makes your fever?" "I'm Alive" also has a delightful rocking groove, "Oh if I don't get you back, I'll cover up my bloody tracks with sorrow, hopes & hide my dying pride." The dreamy Shelby Lynne does Nick Drake track "If I Were Smart" communicates a soft gentle sadness that Shelby fills exquisitely. "Telephone," "10 Rocks" & "Baby" are all great tracks. With "Suit Yourself" about to hit the market, "Identity Crisis" is still a treasure-trove. Enjoy!
- What a GOOD album this is....: Wow, what a nice surprise. It's the Shelby Lynne album I been waiting for. This album rocks, swoons, gets down like your'e in church, and then some....
Shelby does what she pleases n this album, and it shows. She sounds comfortable with each song, and sounds like she's having fun singing them. A nice stripped down acoustic approach suits these songs perfectly. I fell in love with the coo of her voice a long time ago, and it's all over this album. She hasn't sounded bettter, vocally as she does here. "One with the Sun" has to be the most beautiful track on here. And "Gotta get better" rocks like nothing else I've heard her do. The churning strumming takes you in right away and really rocks. Amazingly there is little percussion on this album and it seems to work just fine. The introspection of "If I were smart" here she examines a situation of the heart, shows a she can still turn a phrase to get her point across.
Now I'm sorry but I don't understand the review calling "10 Rocks" hokey. It's a great song. Why can't Shelby Lynne do a gospel shuffle? Lyle Lovett can and no one says anything. In any event she shows that she has the ability to pull it off.
This album shows the many facets of an amazing artist. An eclectic collection of songs make up a strong, cohesive work. Her talents shine here. The best part is that she produced and played the guitar parts herself. It was as if, to make a really good Shelby Lynne record, she had to do it herself. Good for her! It worked!
(Personally I'd like to hear her re-do "Love Shelby" to sound as pure as this record does. There were some really great songs on that album that could use a personal touch.)
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