The Other Side Of Linda

I'm going to try to keep this quick, but as expected, Linda's new CD is FABULOUS. It's a very different path for her, although her liner notes explain that a lot of it has to do with being dumped (dumped!) by Atlantic after making several successful discs for them and ending up with a new studio and using the opportunity to try something different. It's much more of a country-pop type sound, heavier on country than on pop, so it sounds more Dixie Chicks-ish than Carrie Underwood-ish. Normally it's not the kind of music I would like, but her voice is so fabulous she totally pulls it off. There are a few Broadway-sounding songs, such as If I Could, which is so wonderful to finally have on disc after hearing her do it in concert for years, and If You Believe (The Way I Do), and in the vein of her first two albums, a fabulous rendition of Both Sides Now. In addition, Linda also finally tried her hand at writing, with Waiting For The Fall, and it's not at all the type of song that I would have expected her to write, and that's actually a good thing. It's a very different album and one that has the potential to finally break her through to mainstream success. This is the type of album that could end up finally with some Grammy nominations and maybe even a long overdue Best New Artist Grammy. If Shelby Lynne could do it after 14 albums, then it should be no problem for Linda, it's the same kind of music. Get the CD, you won't be disappointed, her string of fabulous CD's is still unbroken.