Success has always seemed to be just around the corner for Shelby Lynne - which must be a little frustrating for the blonde Alabama girl, since she's now been making records for well over a decade. Her new effort has clearly been designed as the big breakthrough, arriving complete with a sexy new image for Shelby and some grandiose soul-rock music that wears its ambition firmly on its sleeve. Her rugged Southern twang is well capable of handling the album's standout brassy numbers, as well as a few token slushy ballads and the whole thing makes for a lively, perfectly enjoyable album. Even so, there's something just a bit too polished about the whole thing - which may mean that world domination eludes Shelby yet again.
