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POP ROCK

Sheryl Crow — "Detours" — (Interscope/A&M)

If life experiences truly inspire artists, then Sheryl Crow definitely has quite a bit to relate on her new CD, "Detours." Her first release since 2005's "Wildflowers," the new CD comes after a couple of years of highs and lows for the singer-songwriter, including a breakup with former fiance Lance Armstrong, breast cancer and the adoption of her now 2-year-old son, Wyatt. Those life events definitely seem to have contributed to a decidedly stern tone in many of Crow's lyrics, some of which get downright political and preachy. The biggest change though, and one that helps the production, is the return of producer Bill Bottrell, who was at the controls for Crow's debut CD, "Tuesday Night Music Club," back in 1993. Bottrell brings back some of the production tricks from "TNMC," including drum tracks and music loops, that normally hamper music by an artist such as Crow, but which work here quite well.

For a woman who told us back in 1993 "All I wanna do is have some fun," Crowe seems, for the most part, to be all business on "Detours."

The opening track, "God Bless This Mess," mentions 9/11 and the war in Iraq, with Crowe leaving no doubt as to where she stands concerning the present political climate. Other songs discuss subjects ranging from the gasoline crisis ("Gasoline"), to world peace ("Peace Be Upon Us"), to trust fund kids ("Motivation").

"Love is Free," which addresses New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, is the song that probably comes the closest to duplicating the carefree feel of Crow's debut.

That song, with its bouncy rhythm and upbeat lyrics contradicting its more serious message, is likely to be a future radio single.

The material here isn't quite as good as the Crow of years past, but she can still write a good pop hook in some cases.

Crow has always been a savvy observer of other's actions, and while some of the lyrics and subject matter on "Detours" come off as a bit blunt, one might consider that bluntness might be exactly what Crow was shooting for when writing these songs. (B-)

Download These: "Love is Free," "Love is all There Is."

Giant Bear — "Giant Bear" — (Red Wax)

Fans of the Nashville rock scene are probably familiar with both the Ruffin Brown Band and Okraboy.

Those two bands joined forces back in 2005 to become Giant Bear, and as it turns out the musical marriage has produced some particularly sweet fruit for fans of country rock.

Sounding a bit like Drive-By Truckers mixed with the Asylum Street Spankers, Giant Bear's new self-titled CD takes advantage of the fact that four of the band's five members contribute vocals.

While songs such as "Nashville" and "Wyoming" are nice, it is cellist Jana Misner's voice that draws the most attention on songs such as "Leisure Learning" and "Clementine."

Particularly good is "Las Vegas," which features Jeff White's vocals, and sounds like what might happen if Jackson Browne and Drive-By Truckers holed up in a studio with a bottle of brown liquor.

There is also a cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like a Hole" that would probably horrify Trent Reznor, but the country-fried version of that electro-rock tune actually works quite well.

With a sound that is refreshingly original in these days of pre-packaged pop albums, Giant Bear will hopefully have a long and successful career. Check the band out for yourself when Giant Bear plays at the Village Tavern on Leap Day, Feb. 29. (A-)

Download These: "Nashville," "Leisure Learning," "Las Vegas"

TRIBUTE

Shelby Lynne — Just A Little Lovin' — (Lost Highway)

It isn't often that a music critic is faced with the conundrum of what element of an album to love the most. Such is the case with "Just a Little Lovin'," Shelby Lynne's love letter to the late, great Dusty Springfield.

On the one hand, there is the fact that this is an album full of songs originally popularized by Springfield, one of the 20th-century's finest (and most underrated) singers. On the other hand, there is the fact that the songs on "Just a Little Lovin'" are written by a veritable who's-who list of great songwriters.

Springfield knew how to wring every last bit of yearning and heartbreak out of a song, and in her heyday there were songwriters clamoring to write songs just so she could sing them. The list on "Just a Little Lovin'" includes Burt Bacharach and Hal David ("Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "The Look of Love"), Tony Joe White ("Willie and Laura Mae Jones"), and Randy Newman ("I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore").

Then, if I could somehow grow a third hand out of the middle of my chest, I would use it to spotlight the final, and most important piece of the puzzle; Shelby Lynne herself.

Instead of trying to vamp and coo it up like Dusty did, Lynne keeps things suitably understated, interpreting the nine Springfield songs and one Lynne original (which she says Springfield inspired) as mellow torch songs. The effect is magical, especially on "I Only Want to Be With You," which Springfield recorded as a romp with strings and horns. Lynne's version is slower, more a plea than a declaration. Her version of Donnie Fritts and Eddie Hinton's "Breakfast in Bed" is also incredible.

Even the Lynne-penned "Pretend" works with the rest of the material, and I'll wager that Springfield would have recorded the tune were she still alive. Shelby Lynne has crafted a superb tribute to a singer who put the heart in heartbreak. (A+)

Download These: "I Only Want to Be with You," "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," "Breakfast in Bed"