Sheryl Crow-Detours

Record Label: A&M
Year: 2008
Track Listing:
01. God Bless The Mess
02. Shine Over Babylon
03. Love Is Free
04. Peace be Upon Us
05. Gasoline
06. Out Of Our Heads
07. Detours
08. Now That You’re Gone
09. Drunk With The Thought of You
10. Diamond Ring
11. Motivation
12. Make It Go Away (The Radiation Song)
13. Love Is All There Is
14. Lullaby For Wyatt

Detours is an aptly titled for Sheryl Crow’s latest album. In between her broken engagement to Lance Armstrong, her battle with breast cancer, and the adoption of her son Wyatt,
she has managed to release one of her strongest albums to date.

Teaming up with one of her earlier collaborators, songwriter Bill Bottrell, Crow has produced an album that is a mixture of pop, rock, folk and roots. Don’t be too surprised to find political tunes on this album, as the album kicks off with ‘God Bless The Mess’, which gives Crow an isolated, echoed sound.
They’re closely followed by ‘Shine over Babylon’; the worldly tune ‘Peace Be upon Us’ that features Arabic singing; and the rock-themed ‘Gasoline’. Naturally, as one can expect from Crow, they’re all anti-war.

After hearing those track alone, one knows that Crow has soared past songs about soaking up the sun and having fun, and settled for something so much better.
For those who don’t want to hear anti-war protests, take a deep breath as the album alters from the preaches of anti-global warming and anti-war to a more personal level.

Detours sees Crow touch on aspects of her personal life, and the demons she has battled recently. ‘Make it go away’ touches on her own personal experience with breast cancer and she produces a touching tribute to her son on ‘Lullaby for Wyatt’.

She also touches on her personal heartbreak with ‘Detours’ and ‘Now you’re gone’ which is a strong redemption-from-love song. ‘Love is there’, which sees Crow deal with the loss of love in a more mature manner.

This is a stellar effort for Crow who, after 15 odd years in the music industry, has made her mark as a singer-songwriter.

Tracks worthy of listening: ‘Gasoline’, ‘Out Of Our Heads’, ‘Peace Be Upon Us’ ‘Now That You’re Gone’.

I give this: HHHH

Buy Detours

Official Site