[This review was revised and bettered in celebration of the fact that I can edit again! 10-30-01]

Here is Shawn post-grammy and pre "A Few Small Repairs" before "Sunny Came Home" was on every pop station in America.

And I have to say I far prefer this album to the latter.
Her songwriting is amazing. One of the women I admire most in music today.

This album reeks of heartbreak and uncertainty, and runs the gamut from quiet introspection (on "Polaroids" and "Monopoly") to sheer determination ("Set the Prairie On Fire").

The album begins with the delicate strains of Polaroids, which appears to be the story of a formerly tough girl who is now nursing some pretty serious wounds. She's tired and needs to go home for a rest from the man who's broken her heart. Example?

Please no more therapy
Mother take care of me
Piece me together with a needle and thread
Wrap me in eiderdown
Lace from your wedding gown
Fold me and lay me down on your bed...

Tennessee is a solid song in terms of its melody, and its cool "great driving song" beat. But the lyrics? I'm still trying to figure them out. Some sort of homage to Tennessee, but I'm still not sure what kind. It's one of my favorites on the album, but more because of the tune than the lyrics this time. Richard Thompson has a soaring guitar solo on this one!

I saw somebody standin'
In a field with a crutch
Behind his rich southern daddy
With the Midas touch
They said be outta here by sundown
They said Good Luck
You might say I was the stranger who knew too much

Tenderness on the Block is Shawn's cover of the Warren Zevon tune, and she covers it well, with some help from the Subdudes, some of New Orleans' finest harmonizers.

Round of Blues was one of the singles from this album, and another of my favorites. The story of a constantly feuding couple who break apart then come together again, it is poppy and full of earnest hopefulness. I used to be in a relationship like this. No matter how many times you separate, you keep thinking the next time will be better. And it never is. You might finally learn your lesson, or you might not.

We had our bitter cheer
And sweet sorrow
We lost a lot today
We get it back tomorrow
I hear the sound of wheels
I know the rainbow's end
I see lights in a fat city
I feel love again

Monopoly is a very personal, very painful song for me to listen to. I discovered it after a very traumatic breakup. Shawn's voice nearly wavers in this song. It must be highly personal to her and difficult to write.

Because right now I'd be bought and sold
To see your face somewhere
I would sell your sweet sweet soul
Just to touch your crazy black gold hair
I don't care what's really real
I was someone that you'd heard of
I saw heaven in your eyes
And we made a deal
And that's what I knew of love

Orion in the Sky echoes the same theme-- with the couple who are running their relationship into the ground and don't want to face it. This one contains lots of space references.

Because we've broken down the wilderness
And we've blackened up the skies
And we cry cause we've got no vision left
While the smoke gets in our eyes
And there's no more time
And the dream is dying...

Climb On a Back (That's Strong)
is a wonderfully encouraging song...sort of like 10,000 Maniacs "Trouble Me" in spirit. But it's more of a version for couples, where a woman wants her guy to open up about what's bothering him so she can help him deal with it. I love the strong shoulder imagery.

If you could save me
A place in heaven
with a clean, well-lighted room
I'll muscle up to Armageddon
and I'll wave to you darlin'
I'll be home soon

Set the Prairie on Fire is a sleek, pared down song about a couple experiencing deep, sultry passion. The lyrics are amazing, and the Hammond organ (courtesy of Booker T. Jones) gives it a soulful, longing sort of mood.

When the feeling burns down
to one solitary color
The velocity of longing
Melting into each other
It's a song our fingers play
All at once and together
You can bet we never learned it
But we've known it forever

Object of My Affection is a vocal showcase not only for Shawn but also for the Subdudes. The interesting instrumentation includes clapping, David Lindley on bazouki, and Richie Hayward playing some brushes on a guitar case.

I tried looking for love
But I guess it's true
You don't look for love
It's gonna look for you
Well you found me, honey
And you sound so good

In Kill the Messenger, Shawn speaks to a friend named Jane about her disillusionment about life as they travel through Canada. She qualifies that she still has some warm feelings inside, but they're pretty fleeting. Somebody needs some Prozac, it seems.

Sometimes someone drifts by
And out nets get entwined by the sea
And in time I might find
They still mean something to me

In I Don't Know Why she tries to explain her love for someone and finds she cannot do it. She just wants him to know that she's there and she wants to help him get by.

And every time you look that way
I would lay down my life for you
I don't know why
I know these things, but I do....

Guest stars include David Lindley (of El Rayo X), Richard Thompson, Larry Klein (ex husband producer of Joni Mitchell), Bela Fleck, Richard Thompson, The Subdudes, Bruce Hornsby, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Chris Whitley, Jim Keltner, Joni Mitchell, and the ever-present Jon Leventhal.

I highly recommend this album. It's calm and comforting like a warm blanket. I enjoy listening when I'm doing something relatively mellow, like reading or cooking. Make sure to have a hankie on hand for "Monopoly."


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: At Work