Identity Crisis

Shelby Lynne | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B0000C0FF8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,111 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

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

Product Description

12 tracks. Saw cut into spine.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Return to Form November 17, 2003

By Larry White

Format:Audio CD

This album is a huge relief. After her last record 'Love, Shelby'(following on the heels of her Grammy-winning 'I Am Shelby Lynne'), we thought we had lost her. She certainly had lost us. Everything about that cd was wrong, from her sex-kitten poses on the covers (well, maybe not that wrong), to the mediocre material, to the strident and overbearing production by 'hit-maker' Glen Ballard, who mistook Shelby for Alanis. Now with a new record company (which, along with the insinuating title of the current cd, leads us to believe that her last effort was not all her doing) and with herself at the creative controls, Lynne has made a very successful return to form. The songs, all written by Lynne, are tuneful and personal. Her honey and grits vocals are mixed up-front, so she feels like she's in the room. Her versatility is demonstrated with bits of rock, country, blues, gospel and, of course, those heart-tugging ballads. Confoundingly, with her 'Identity Crisis', Shelby Lynne seems to have hit her stride. If so, her future bodes even better.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Shelby returns to her strengths September 27, 2003

By Karl Miller

Format:Audio CD

Thank heaven this album is more "I Am Shelby Lynn" than "Love, Shelby".
Working with Glenn Ballard (Alannis's producer) was such a crucial miscalculation - and probably took a lot of steam out of what was a career height in the wake of Shelby's Grammy winning "I Am.." project. Here, Shelby returns to her strengths - serious Memphis-style soul, country ballads that ache and uplift, and instrumentation that accompanies, rather than drowns out that gorgeous voice.
You can't help but clap along with "10 Rocks", the best song on this disc - it's a Shelby written original (all of this disc was written and produced by Shelby), a gospel tinges blues number that features some awesome piano playing by Billy Payne of Little Feet. "Lonesome" is the closest thing you will get nowadays to the kind of music Patsy Cline used to perform (take a hint, Leanne Rimes). And the hushed sounds of two beautiful songs "If I Were Smart" and "I Don't Think So" are strong statements on the power and emotion that Shelby pours into her vocals.
It's great to have this wonderful singer back doing the kind of music that fits her voice - and it is clear that the "Identity Crisis" that her last album represented has been resolved favorably.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars What a GOOD album this is.... March 6, 2005

By Nicman

Format:Audio CD

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.)