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Artist: Sheryl Crow
Label: A&M
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $6.48
You Save: $7.50 (54%)
New (59) Used (23) Collectible (1) from $5.09
Avg. Customer Rating:  126 reviews
Sales Rank: 224
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.2 x 4.7 x 0.2
MPN: 001059902
UPC: 602517570030
EAN: 0602517570030
ASIN: B0010IOAKW
Release Date: February 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: *FACTORY SEALED!! FAST SHIPPING!!
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| Customer Reviews:
 Back with Bottrell! July 31, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Sheryl Crow rescues her career by turning to Bill Bottrell, her music partner from her first watershed album, "Tuesday Night Music Club". I've liked a lot of her work since then, but she hasn't produced a CD like that one since she and Bill split in mid-album #2 over what... many people speculate about, and probably only the two of them know.
Bottrell's a producer/songwriter/musician that brings out the best in Sheryl Crow. This collection is without a doubt a return to form for her and one hopes she'll work with Bottrell and produce more of this caliber of music.
The collection is really a coupling of two themes, the political Crow and the loved and lovelorn Crow. There are two songs that are exceptions, and they have a lot in common; they are both emotional outbursts from a woman who allowed herself to be featured as part of an "in love duo" in the tabloids, only to be painfully left behind, and a woman who faced and faced down breast cancer.
The crappy:
These two songs, "Diamond Ring" and "Make It Go Away" are whiny, distracting and unworthy of Crow and the rest of the CD. One is a subtle whine about Armstrong and the broken engagement. Even the voice is whiny. The other is a screechy whine about undergoing radiation. While I admire Crow for the hard work she must have done in her recovery from breast cancer, and her unwillingness to milk it for headlines, I really wish she wouldn't have inflicted this song on the world. Little more needs to be said.
The political:
In her "political protest" mode, Crow gave us 6 songs, which lead off the CD. The reaction to them is varied... if you don't like politically themed songs, you wouldn't listen to Sheryl Crow, in my mind. She gives us a "nation is rotten" song, three songs about the middle eastern conflict, a clever song with a "green" theme, and one ditty about the Katrina aftermath. The best of them?
Crow and Bottrell (and two others in collaboration) took a chance with "Peace Be Upon Us" -- the melody and instrumentation are clearly middle eastern in flavor, and Crow's verses are sung in counterpoint with with the same words in Arabic, as sung by Ahmed Al Himi. The message is simple - a call for peace in both the speech of the Western world and the Middle East. I didn't read much in protest of this song, but 2-3 years ago, listeners would have spurned Crow's effort as traitorous. Today, it's a worthy effort.
Sheryl's obligatory Katrina song is fun and infectious.."Love is Free". It focuses on the spirit of the residents of New Orleans, and it's got lyrics to die for:
"You go to church
And pray to God for no more rain
A Cadillac, a paper sack
Hey there, Jack you want some bourbon for the pain?"
And last but not least at all is the imaginative "Gasoline". Ben Harper joins the vocals for an apocalyptic song about looking back on the Gasoline wars of 2017. Crow wages the wars all over the globe, from London to Riyadh to Tennessee to Argentina. The lyrics are masterful, and it's truly a protest song. My favorite line involves the gangs of Mini Coopers battling in the streets. When you hear a Crow song like this you forget the singing and toast the songwriter.
Despite all the high points in the political tunes, the very best of Crow is still to come in the
"Love and Lovelorn" set of 5 songs (there's also a throwaway song mocking Hollywood starlets called "Motivation"):
"Detours" song 7 on the CD is the song I think of as "The paper-thin heart song", from the refrain. Crow is at her best, questioning a mother (real or imagined) about what to do with the fade to gray that is her ability to fall in love. It's poignant, and lyrics and music are a spectacular match.
The best just might be, "Drunk With the Thought of You"...simple, engaging, a real songwriter's description of the high of being in love...."I know you've melted my heart in two".
She closes strong on her loving themes with:
"Love Is All There Is" -- and this is a song that will stay with you. It asks the question that Crow reportedly has asked herself... "Does Anybody Want You?" and showcases her voice better than any other song on the CD.
And finally, Crow closes with a new door opening in her life, and gives us "Lullaby for Wyatt" (the name of her newly adopted son). It's simple and peaceful and has the characteristic I find in the finest lullabies...lifted from the nursery, it coexists as one of those plain old love songs.
I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this collection by Sheryl Crow and Bill Bottrell, and how much I hope for more. The CD has enjoyed a lot of airplay in the car over the last six months, and I'm sure that Crow is feeling at home with her music again.
 Be careful, July 15, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Only three or four songs are worth.
Coming from Sheryl Crow, I was expecting something more original, professional, and creative.
But I'm patient guy, so I guess, better wait for the next album to come out.
 I'm still waiting July 11, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Gawd I love Sheryl Crow!! but I'm still waiting for her to bring it back around. She is the real deal do understand that. It's like she is trying too hard, digging too deep and then kind of patching it all together to give us this gift. As many have said, lots going on in her head.... cause she is all grown up!!! with even more responsibilities (last track) but like Annie Lennox and Melissa Etheridge it's all about the cause... the political cause. We hear it constantly, we read it daily now we have to go through it all over again with our favorite music artists because, well they take advantage of their positions amongst us to give us their opinion on how things are in the world. if you agree then enjoy if you don't agree then don't buy it...i guess. Some artists don't subject us to their opinions, they just do everything they can to try and support the solidiers...that's cool. One of these artists is really good friends with Ms Crow...pay attention sheryl!! Leaving on a positive note, tracks 3,6,8 and 13 are worth your time.
 Reminds me of her first CD... July 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This CD reminds me of Sheryl's first CD, Tuesday Night Music Club, which was my favorite of hers. I guess it's the sound, her raw voice, not trying so hard to create a radio "single". I think Detours is a decent effort and the more that I listen to it, the more I like it.
That being said, if you're looking for a 'pop' CD, this isn't it. If you enjoy the unique sound of Sheryl Crow, her voice, her lyrics, the uniqueness of her sound...this will become a favorite. It's already one of mine. Some of my favorite songs are: Detours, Out of our Heads, Love is Free, God Bless this Mess, Diamond Ring and Love is all there is.
I guess I should also address those buyers who are upset with the fact that she's singing about her politicial or world views. I don't think any celebrity who does this is say that their views are MORE important than anyone else's. I think they are just trying to spread their opinion, to maybe open up someone elses views. And why not? I love to blog my opinion for that reason (or write a review for that matter!), so I don't begrudge anyone else that option. I say, more power to the performers who are willing to take a chance and share their views. It doesn't mean I will follow them or change my views, all it means is I will THINK about their words. Is thinking or considering other opinions than your own a bad thing?? It's free speech and if you don't like it, well that's your problem- in my opinion.
Back to Detours.....a great CD!! I like it much better than some of her others like her self-titled CD. So, if you don't mind a little hidden agenda behind some of the songs, and you like Sheryl Crow's music, I think you'll like this cd! I enjoy her because it's always a unique experience.
 Sheryl Crow Detours June 23, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Poor effort. We all know Sheryl can do much better than this. Shouldn't have wasted the $10.
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