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UP!
Shania Twain
(Mercury-Universal)
You can't please all the people all the time, is definitely an adage Shania Twain does not live by.
On Up!, the newest CD by Canada's country superstar which is in stores today, she attempts to please all with an abundance of music.
First, there's an unprecedented 19 songs (73 minutes of music) written by Twain and her husband John (Mutt) Lange.
And at no extra cost they've thrown in a second CD. The green disc has Twain singing the 19 tunes accompanied by banjo, mandolin and steel guitar. The red disc has the same songs, but delivered with a pop sensibility.
And if that was not enough, you will also receive a "blue version" -- a more rhythmic East-Indian influenced offering -- which can be downloaded free at www.shaniatwain.com and will be packaged internationally with the red disc.
Twain is sure to please her fans, as she has not strayed from the formula of her last two Diamond-certified albums, Come On Over (1997) and The Woman in Me (1995).
Up!'s songs are slickly produced, full of catchy hooks and delivered with girl-next-door vocals.
If it ain't broke don't fix it -- Come On Over is the most successful female solo artist album ever with 34 million in sales.
That said, after a nearly five-year hiatus, a move to Switzerland and the birth of her first child, it's disappointing Twain has not moved forward musically. There is no discovery here.
Taking a break was wise for the over-exposed crossover star. It's just a shame the time wasn't used to explore her craft further, and instead of keeping us "Up," wowed, or at least, surprised us.
There are some highlights including Forever And For Always, Ain't No Particular Way, I'm Jealous and Ka-Ching!
But too much of a good thing can be bad. The tracks are jammed so tightly, it's easy to miss the end of one song and the start of the next -- which, of course, also speaks to the repetitive nature of the tunes. (More on Shania Twain)
Track Listing
1. Up!
2. I'm Gonna Getcha Good!
3. She's Not Just A Pretty Face
4. Juanita
5. Forever And For Always
6. Ain't No Particular Way
7. It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing
8. Nah!
9. (Wanna Get To Know You) That Good!
10. C'est La Vie
11. I'm Jealous
12. Ka-Ching!
13. Thank You Baby! (For Makin' Someday Come So Soon)
14. Waiter! Bring Me Water!
15. What A Way To Wanna Be!
16. I Ain't Goin' Down
17. I'm Not In The Mood (To Say No!)
18. In My Car (I'll Be The Driver)
19. When You Kiss Me