Shania Twain, Wolf Alice, Neil Finn and more music reviews
This week Shania Twain returns with her first new studio album in 15 years, British rockers Wolf Alice release a jaw-dropping sophomore album and Crowded House�s Neil Finn releases his latest solo album. Plus, Singer Torii Wolf teams up with the DJ Premier, jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington releases a new collection, indie-rocker Torres releases her third album and Primus drop an album about rainbow goblins.
Fifteen years have passed since Shania Twain has released an album. In those fifteen years, Twain went through a divorce from her first husband and producer, Robert John �Mutt� Lange, got remarried and went on what was billed as a �Farewell Tour.� The first thing fans may notice is that her voice has a new raspiness. Considering she has postponed shows due to vocal issues in recent years, this isn�t a surprise, but her voice now has more character. The harmonies on �Light of My Life� show that she still knows how to use it to maximum benefit.
Fans can imagine this album doing well. �Poor Me� sounds like its guitar-riff was written with the Chainsmokers� Daya-assisted �Don�t Let Me Down� in mind, while the deluxe track �Let�s Kiss and Make Up� is a bit of bouncy pop.
When Twain explores a darker side, she hits something interesting. There�s a menacing drive to �Roll Me on the River,� while her heartbreak is definitely felt on �I�m Alright.�
The deluxe edition of the record comes with four bonus tracks. They aren�t tacked onto the end of the set like the industry standard practice. Rather, the additional tracks are spread across the record.
�Now� shows Twain to still be a dynamic force after the extended break. She�s more of a pop-rock singer than country, but with these compositions she and her various producers are able to recapture the magic in some way. It�s hard to tell if this record will mirror the monster successes of the past, but if you know anything about her history, Shania Twain is the kind of singer you root for to succeed.
�Now� proves that Twain can move on musically without the assistance of Lange. As she says on one of this album�s main singles, �Life�s About to Get Good.� This is the sound of Twain picking herself up after heartbreak and rebuilding her life and her career. Welcome back.
Focus Tracks:
�Light of My Life� This starts out as a romantic bossanova of sorts and blossoms into a harmonic workout that would make the vocal groups of the sixties proud. It turns on a dime and that makes it all the more thrilling.
�Poor Me� Twain does better with ballads and this sounds like a pop hit waiting to happen as Twain sings about discovering a cheating partner.
�Life�s About to Get Good� Perhaps this is the album�s thesis-statement. At the same time, it�s the kind of upbeat fare that Twain�s fans have come to expect.
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