Even back when she was flanked by the comparatively opulent production of her ’90s Nashville albums and her nervy 1999 pop breakthrough I Am Shelby Lynne, the Alabama-bred Lynne had a way of exercising steadfast, knowing restraint in her performances. Eventually, she adopted a more simplified, self-sufficient recording approach—like the one showcased on her new, self-titled full-length—and still managed to suggest entire elusive worlds of desire with her deft, sensual gestures. Lynne laid down part of this 11-song set in the process of filming an unreleased movie about the artistic spirit, even utilizing lyrics from director/screenwriter Cynthia Mort, and called in some contributions from seasoned players including Benmont Tench. But the album feels like the work of a singer, songwriter, and producer who prefers more cloistered communication. “My Mind’s Riot” and “Revolving Broken Heart” are sketches of oppressive solitude and the pain and pleasure of pining. During the slinky R&B number “The Equation,” Lynne's murmurings of lust make it feel like a private preoccupation. Her soulful vamps during "Weather" savor appetites stoked by isolation. "I can taste the weather," she pauses, sensitivity heightened, "stirring me up, stirring me up, stirring me up."
- 2017
- Lucinda Williams
- Rosanne Cash
- Kelly Willis
- Mary Chapin Carpenter