Shadowland [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]

On her first two albums, took a witty and playful approach to the sounds and traditions of classic music, and while it was obvious she truly loved the music, she also seemed to be having a bit of fun at its expense at the same time. But in 1988, proved beyond a doubt that she was serious about (as well as her own talent) with , an homage to the polished sounds of the 1950s and '60s that was produced by , the iconic Nashville producer who was behind the controls for many of 's most memorable recordings. herself sought out to work on the album, and luring him out of retirement proved to be a masterstroke; rather than try to re-create the lush textures and deep atmosphere of 's sides for or herself, went to the source, and gave her studio settings that referenced his work during Nashville's golden era while adding an ever-so-slight contemporary sheen. also brought aboard an all-star crew of legendary Nashville studio hands and invited , , and to sing with on the closing In the hands of many artists, this sort of project might have been an exercise in misplaced, nostalgic fandom, but on taps into the sound and style of her most vital musical influences while at the same time putting her stamp on the music -- this isn't trying to be , but rather demonstrating what she learned from and where those lessons took her. 's lush, expressive voice has rarely sounded better or more emotionally powerful than it does on , and it presents her meeting the cream of Nashville's greatest era not as a wide-eyed acolyte, but as a gifted artist collaborating on equal terms. It's a magnificent achievement. ~ Mark Deming