It appears this highly-anticipated album is poised to run up against a bit of a backlash, but before you stone the Crow, give a listen.

If a recent story in a San Francisco newspaper is to be believed, Crow, a former back-up vocalist with Michael Jackson, befriended a group of talented musicians and songwriters (the Tuesday Night Music Club, which later became the title of her debut album), milked them for ideas and inspiration, and then dumped them when fame beckoned.

Well, okay. But that tale of alleged deception can't completely account for this sophomore effort, which is rather pointedly titled Sheryl Crow, as if to proclaim she can stand on her own.

Crow writes or co-writes these 13 songs and produced the record, and if the sly lyrical tone of Tuesday Night Music Club wasn't authentically Crow's (as her collaborators are claiming), then the singer has learned to mimic that tone perfectly on this new record.

The fanciful, wry worldview on (already famous for invoking the fury of Wal-Mart by suggesting the U.S. branch of the retail chain deals in death by selling guns) have the widescreen sweep familiar from her gargantuan hit single, All I Wanna Do.

The standout opening track, Maybe Angels, moves from Pensacola Holy Roller meetings to secret UFO bases in New Mexico, takes a big swipe at tabloid culture and scores a bullseye.

The handclaps, electro-percussion and stabs of organ on A Change, too, harken back to the last album.

But Sheryl Crow is a much funkier affair, with ragged drums, wah-wah pedal and electric piano as key ingredients.

But the main weapon in her arsenal is her voice, which seems to move from a sweet rock 'n roll growl to a ragged, heartrending ballad purr within a single verse. Whatever she did to get this far, it's clear Crow will be here for a while.

Track Listing 1. Maybe Angels
2. A Change
3. Home
4. Sweet Rosalyn
5. If It Makes You Happy
6. Redemption Day
7. Hard To Make A Stand
8. Everyday Is A Winding Road
9. Love Is A Good Thing
10. Oh Marie
11. Superstar
12. The Book
13. Ordinary Morning