I'm not that big of a fan of Sheryl Crow like some people, but her last album (Wildflower) really made an impression on me, so I was looking forward to hearing her next offering.

I'm now very glad that it was of no cost to me to listen.

The way I see it, music is supposed to catch the ear first, the sensibilites later. Crow has given her fans plenty of listening pleasure in the past but with "Detours" my expectations were figuratively deafened from the sheer number of production misfires contained within the album. I ultimately don't think much of it and here's a blow-by-blow of the reasons why.

The album opens with "God Bless This Mess", which runs on a little too long - this is the type of song that should be short and sweet but it goes on for over two minutes, the acoustic guitar annoyingly repetitious with hardly any chord changes and the audio effect of it sounding like an ages-old recording is a bit strange. "Shine Over Babylon" is the real opener here with its rousing chorus that crescendos nicely and it segues quickly into "Love Is Free". It's obvious why this song was chosen as the first single to be released from "Detours" - it's the best song the album has to offer, the most radio-friendly and it echoes of her past hits (think "Soak Up The Sun", "All I Wanna Do"). "Peace Be Upon Us" is the first song that notifies its listener that this isn't your typical Crow album. Though it starts off admirably upbeat, her duet with vocalist Ahmed Al Hirmi is a strange choice - oddly enough, it all works somehow. The song features Arabic lyrics and at one point Crow wails with Al Hirmi like a devout Muslim calling out to Allah. "Gasoline" has some amusing and biting lyrics, touching upon America's dependence on foreign oil with an acerbic wit, but doesn't quite work as a song; Crow does a Johnny Cash-like recitation rather than full-out singing through most of it.

The tempo of "Out Of Our Heads" just doesn't seem to fit the melody - this song should've been a ballad and the result is a composition that confuses and grates the nerves. Actress Rosanna Arquette is a backing vocalist on this track, making it even more of an anomaly. The song "Detours" rolls along and as the title track is the least noticeable of all the 14 songs contained on this album.

Well, that's tracks 1-7 thus far and the second half of the album redeems little of the first. "Now That You're Gone" retreats back to some of the best of Crow's territory with its soulful, easy tempo and "Drunk With The Thought Of You" is another goodie. Starting off promisingly is "Diamond Ring" which lazily winds on a bluesy beat but it's painfully obvious that parts of the song are out of Crow's vocal range because she's really pushing it on the chorus. This is a woman who is primarily an alto and the repetition of the high-octave refrain has her voice horrendously straining and breaking, effectively killing the entire song. "Motivation" doesn't really have motivation (how ironic) - the lyrics are facetious but empty and the accompaniment is spiritless and unoriginal, making it ultimately forgettable.

I understand that "Make It Go Away (Radiation Song)" is a deeply personal song for Crow and was written at a time of despair and uncertainty while she was being treated for breast cancer. Despite this, it still doesn't resonate the way it should and Crow sounds utterly whiny further on into the track. "Love Is All There Is" isn't noteworthy in the least. "Lullaby For Wyatt" is surprisingly sweet without any of the schmaltz one might expect; it's a really beautiful song on an album full of generally trivial and lackluster compositions.

Bottom line: "Detours" arrangements and lyrics are a little off the beaten path at times and regrettably the album suffers for it. Crow is a good lyricist but this isn't her best work (her writing and arrangement on 2005's "Wildflower" rivals this) and from the sounds of it, she has hit a musical detour. Where this album was intended to go, I don't know. Here's hoping her next one arrives at a better destination.

Detours being Sherry Crow's latest release is a good release that is a bit too political. As anyone whom has read my reviews knows, I have a big aversion for political music. Political music often becomes politics light. Meaning that it dumbs down politics to one liners. Sometimes I get the felling that Crow is trying to hard. Like on the song Peace be Upon Us. The lyrics sound pressed and forced. The social commentary also falls flat many times. Like on the track Gasoline. The book-let is really nice. Crow in many different poses in different outfits that actually looks like she would wear. I like how we get the information of who played what instrument. The lyrics are also presented in an easy to read font. 3/5.

Sheryl has outdone herself on this one. All the songs are lyrical as usual, but the lyrics have alot more to them this time. This is her political protest and she has used this venue well to voice her opinions for an end to the war and our dependence on gasoline. Even a simple ballad like 'God Bless this Mess" has a very poignant message about our current administartion. The "Peace Be upon us" with the Arabic is over the top. She has employed her gift to relay some heartfelt and importatant messages. Viva la Sheryl!

I was thinking it was in a plastic case because I didn't see if it stated what type of case it was in.

Thank you, Sheryl, for doing what so few of your colleagues have dared to do: taking on Bush, Cheney, et al foresquare, with candid, courageous lyrics about what's gone wrong, and why. . .as well as inspirational choruses expressing and engendering hope for a progressive, post-Dubya future. The music itself is adventurous and eclectic, and the CD deepens and richens with each listen. "The Globe Sessions" is still her masterpiece, but this is right up there w/ "Sheryl Crow" and "Wildflower" as Silver-Medal Sheryl -- and her second-bests whomp most artists' "bests."