Tears, Lies, And Alibis

Shelby Lynne | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Everso Records
• ASIN: B0039ZF86E
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,819 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

With Tears, Lies, and Alibis the follow-up to 2008's Just A Little Lovin' and the first release on her own label, Everso Records, Shelby Lynne affirms her position as a visionary, iconoclastic artist who deftly weaves country, soul, rock, blues, pop and folk influences to forge her own unique style. Like Identity Crisis (2003) and Suit Yourself (2005), this sparse, unguarded collection was produced by Lynne, who evokes a live-in-the-studio vibe from a stellar group of musicians.

Born in Quantico, VA, she grew up in Jackson, AL and headed to Nashville at an early age. At 18, Lynne s demos landed her an appearance on TNN s Nashville Now series, which led to a Top 50 duet ( "If I Could Bottle This Up" ) with George Jones and a record deal. Following the release of the critically acclaimed I Am Shelby Lynne in 2000, she won the GRAMMY® for Best New Artist. She made her acting debut in 2005, playing Johnny Cash's mother in the Fox Searchlight motion picture Walk the Line.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Lynne, April 21, 2010

By 

Mark D. Prouse "Dustyart" (Riverdale (Bronx), NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tears, Lies, And Alibis (Audio CD)

2008's finely crafted but slow moving tribute to Dusty Springfield, Just A Little Lovin', seems to have divided up the fans a bit. I loved it, but, judging from the reviews on these pages, others either disliked it because they felt the performances didn't compare favorably with the Springfield originals, or because it wasn't what they expected of Ms. Lynne. This new CD finds Shelby firmly back on track, writing all the songs, and sounding better than ever, if perhaps a bit down.

There's a fair amount of variety here, but the album does tend toward the somber, and the instrumentation is sparse and often so subtle that it takes repeated play to notice all the nuances and bits of virtuosity by the supporting players. Yet this factor is also what makes this collection of tunes so charming, despite the sadness and occasional anger conveyed in many of them. Lynne is not a flamboyant artist, and is not interested in proving every second that she's a technically brilliant vocalist. No screaming or running up and down the scales - just good, straightforward phrasing with attention paid most to lyric and melody. These songs convey emotion through Lynne's words and the sweetness and delicacy of the instrumentals. Although this is at a heart a country album, it's not a typical one, in that it does not strive for either a stereotypical country sound, or for commercialism - no hit singles here except maybe the opening rocker, "Rains Came." This is mostly a quiet, adult record, yet not without some energy (although the most up-tempo tracks are the first two, with slight lifts coming in on two mid-tempo tracks in the middle, and the next-to-last song). Listen to the gently driving "Family Tree," reminiscent of the southwestern folk sound of Calexico. "Something to Be Said About Airstreams" is a sweet, nostalgic homage to living on the road and reminds me a little of the songs of John Gorka (his "Airstream Bohemians" came to mind), and Greg Brown. "Loser Dreamer" is especially moving, with a lyric that hits me where I live, and the effect is magnified through a haunting, atmospheric arrangement. "Old # 7" has some nice electric slide guitar, and the next track, "Old Dog," features vigorous acoustic guitar with a bluesy folk sound and some fine male backup vocals doing the harmony. The final ballad, "Home Sweet Home," is one of the best, most personal songs in this set, with Lynne expressing exhaustion from touring and a longing for the comforts and stability of home life; always nice when an album ends on a high!

My one complaint is that the CD is so brief. It wasn't expensive, though, and I'd rather have a solid, short recording, then a longer, less cohesive one. All and all, a fine offering from an artist who still has much more to say. I'll follow her as long as she keeps making music at least as good as TEARS, LIES AND ALIBIS.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but not her best, April 29, 2010

By 

Booklover "LA" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tears, Lies, And Alibis (Audio CD)

There is no such thing as a bad Shelby Lynne album. She is a major talent and has an amazing voice. I own every album she's put out, and I was looking forward to this one because she produced it and put it out on her own label.

Unfortunately, that's the major weakness of Tears, Lies, and Alibis. I know she has a thing about record companies and music producers, but I believe she does better with collaboration.

This CD is so spare it almost sounds like a demo. I loved the spareness of the previous Dusty Springfield homage, but this one breaks no new ground. She never rocks out. There's nothing jazzy. I was hoping for some soul--nothing.

Several of the songs sound similar to other songs she's released. The lyrics cover similar ground as well. Her best albums continue to be I Am Shelby Lynne; Love, Shelby; and the Springfield homage.

Maybe she's going through something, and the next album will be incredible. I hope she collaborates in the future. I also hope someone tells her the new hairstyle is awful. Whoever is advising her right now is not doing her any favors.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars clear, spare, heartwrenching and pure, May 18, 2010

By 

Sound of Musik (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tears, Lies, And Alibis (Audio CD)

Recently saw Shelby live in NYC and she is spellbinding. She played most of "Tears, Lies..." in the same spare, elegant manner on the cd, and she was mesmerising. Alibi is one of the great ballads of the 21st century. See her live, buy her music, she's as real and beautiful as it gets.