Review by LarryG
2½ stars out of 4
When I Am Shelby Lynne came out in early 2000, the buzz was almost
deafening. It was the best country record of the year. In fact, it
wasn't really a country record at all since it had lots of rock and
r&b flavor. Well, I Am Shelby Lynne is a country record. But it is a
darn good one. In the past, Lynne has tried to make standard country
records like the bland, carefully packaged, market targeted work that
tops the country charts, mixing country and 70's style glossy pop. On
her new CD, Lynne sounds like she's doing what she wants to do and it
sounds good. Lynne is a country singer but she's added the sound of
baby boomer friendly pop rock. It's not a coincidence that Bill
Bottrell, who has produced music for a queen of the genre Sheryl Crow,
cowrote most of the songs, played a lot of the instruments and
produced I Am Shelby Lynne. Lynne especially seems like Crow on a
couple leisurely, down and dirty country rockers. Life is Bad is fun
and loose with handclap percussion. Why Can't You Be tries a little
too hard for a grungy languor but the song advising a guy to relax is
still charming. I don't want to overwork the Sheryl Crow analogy.
Besides having a southern accent, Lynne is different in that her music
is generally pretty mellow. I Am Shelby Lynne is a well made and very
listenable if not incredibly exciting record.
I Am Shelby Lynne gets off to a stunningly good start with Your
Lies. It sounds like a remake of some sort of Patsy Cline classic but,
like everything on the record, was actually written by Lynne. Your
Lies, about being haunted by an ex-lover, starts with a cascade of
Bottrell's drums and then the strings sweep in. Lynne's aching vocal
and Bottrell's minimal but piercing guitar add to the powerful effect.
I Am Shelby Lynne never reaches sound such epic heights again but it's
always quite enjoyable. Leavin', about finally getting the courage to
walk away from an unworthy mate, tries for a 70's r & b sound and
basically succeeds with a nice spare sound. Lynne sounds a little
silly on a spoken intro but sounds appropriately soulful doing her own
backup vocals. She similarly achieves a good, easy atmosphere, if not
much energy, and even has a touch of Aretha in her voice on Thought It
Would Be Easier. That song flows easily into the alike but more lively
Gotta Get Back. Gotta Get Back's sunny mood is probably due to it
being the only happy love song on the record. It even has an
optimistic harmonica solo in the middle.
I Am Shelby Lynne ends with a few simple, ungimmicky songs. The
sad ballad Lookin' Up isn't much but Lynne's voice shines in an
uncluttered setting. Dreamsome is more interesting with delicate
keyboards and a flute creating an appropriately dreamy mood. Where I'm
From, with Lynne singing about never getting too far "from the Alabama
frame of mind", is the most country song on the record and also one of
the best. It has a relaxed, positive mood and also has the record's
most specific and evocative lyrics. I Am Shelby Lynne ends with the
very minimal Black Light Blue. It's not bad since Lynne's voice is
strong enough to work in a torch song but even ignoring its low
points(like rhyming Black Light Blue with cock-a-doodle-do), the song
isn't quite strong enough to support its ambitions.
I Am Shelby Lynne is a good, easy record. The sound is generally
clean and targeted towards a mature adult audience. Lynne is a good
singer. Lynne presents herself as a stronger person than her lyrics
might make you think. She still seems to be finding herself but she's
grown as a writer as she's found a more comfortable style.
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