“All I wanna do is have a little fun before I die” is what she said on her debut album, now, with her seventh studio album Sheryl Crow has changed her tune and it’s very evident in this album. For me, personally, I wish she’d taken a page from her earlier days as this was not her best effort to date. Crow literally grew up about 100 Miles from Memphis and thus came the title of her album and her attempt to recreate some of the music that came from this iconic musical city. I also heard a little ‘old motown’ in this attempt as well, that caught me a little off guard, what with the title of the album.
Listening to this album it becomes a bit ‘tedious’ in it’s flow, it becomes an album that’s not real sure what kind of an album it’s supposed to be, there’s soul, there’s motown, there are reggae-like rythms on songs like “Eye To Eye”.
Likely my two favorite songs on the album are the two “covers”, the first being a cover of Terence Trent D’Arby’s “Sign Your Name” from way back in 1987 when songs still had ‘b-sides’. The other coming from her tribute to Michael Jackson, who gave Crow her first big break choosing her to be his back-up singer, with the song “I Want You Back” which she actually did a very impressive job of.
For me the album overall was a bit of a let down after some of the media hyping articles I read prior to it’s release, I think I prefer Crow in her bluesy, country, rock style akin to her duet with Kid Rock on “Pictures” to this.
1. Our Love Is Fading
2. Eye To Eye
3. Sign Your Name
4. Summer Day
5. Long Road Home
6. Say What You Want
7. Peaceful Feeling
8. Stop
9. Sideways
10. 100 Miles From Memphis
11. Roses And Moonlight
12. I Want You Back
Rating: 2.5 / 5