"We got rock stars in the White House / All our popstars look like porn," Crow sums up on Steve McQueen, the fun lead-off track from her new album, in stores Tuesday.

Sounds about right to me.

This folk/country-influenced rocker rarely disappoints on this 13-track collection, her first in three years, except for the weak first single, Soak Up The Sun.

Overall, it's polished and mature-sounding -- maybe even a bit too much. But there are plenty of harmonies, strings and talented backup from such players as guitarists Doyle Bramhall II and Lenny Kravitz veteran Craig Ross, and Heartbreaker Benmont Tench on organ and piano.

Crow has also assembled a group of A-list guests. There's Liz Phair on Soak Up The Sun, Kravitz on You're An Original, Stevie Nicks on the title track and Diamond Road, Don Henley on It's So Easy, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines on Abilene, Emmylou Harris on Weather Channel, and -- wait for it -- actress Gwyneth Paltrow on It's Only Love. Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland provides additional production on Lucky Kid.

Highlights include Steve McQueen and the equally biting You're An Original -- "Just like a little queen / Dirty mouth and mean."

The flipside of those two songs are the poignant Safe And Sound, which Crow performed for the America: A Tribute To Heroes telecast and album, Over You and It's Only Love.

But the standout tracks are the empowerment anthem Abilene and the stripped-down and melancholy Weather Channel, featuring Crow's most heartfelt vocal performance on the record, with gorgeous harmonies by Harris. (More on Sheryl Crow)

Track Listing