Suit Yourself

The title. SUIT YOURSELF, can mean a number of things. Yes, it can refer to selfishness. There may be a trace of vanity in this recording--especially when considering the two very odd numbers: the distinctly noisy and unpleasant opening, GO WITH IT, and the short and mystifying YOU AND WE. But, these two numbers amount to quibbles considering the quality of the rest of the cd. SUIT YOURSELF also refers to her ongoing search to avoid the pre-packaged and predictable and banal. In addition, the title also well describes the low-key, living room feel of many of the songs and the "caught in the middle of a rehearsal" sense of it all. That last use of SUIT YOURSELF is fairly important here. When listening, one gets a real sense of a work in progress and how such things are put together--i.e., getting the work to "suit yourself" (meaning Shelby, of course) and, in some cases, not finding the ideal solution. It feels spontaneous--partially an illusion, I know. Finally, of course, we are talking about the tough and tender Shelby Lynne, after all. It wouldn't be her if there weren't some strangeness, some wildness, and some lack of control. Fortunately, cigarettes and alcohol notwithstanding, her voice is as fine as ever--particularly intimate and moving on the many slow songs.The two odd songs I mentioned above excepted, I like everything on this album. All of my favorites are quiet with minimal accompaniment but for a guitar, mandolin, dobro or piano. "Where Am I Now?, "Old Times Sake," "I Won't Die Alone," "Iced Tea," and "Sleep" are wonderful. When Shelby sings softly, she gets to me almost every time. Her smoky, delicate, twangy voice is irresistible on these numbers. Very simple and very moving. I liked but not loved "I Cry Everyday," "You're the Man" (an interesting take on her reaction to current events), "Johnny Met June" (maudlin but far from cliched), and "You Don't Have A Heart" (which echoes "If I Were Smart,"--that gorgeous number from IDENTITY CRISIS). Apparently, Shelby recorded the basic vocals in her living room and added much of the rest in the studio, including her own harmony work with herself. That often doesn't work but it does here. Shelby with Shelby with Shelby -- "suit yourself," again. The instrumental support is first rate and buoys this fusion of blues (a lot of blues), still a bit of R&B, and her alt-country sound. She's come a long way from commercial Nashville and good thing, too.In case you thought I'd forgotten Track 12, no way! Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia" is simply magnificent here. I wanted it to go on forever. Shelby's great singing, the jamming of her musicians. Wonderful! I left this album with that performance ringing in my head as was her moving words and sounds from "Sleep:"SLEEP. PLEASE APPEAR.SHOW TO ME YOUR FACE AND TELL ME IT'S OK TO REST.SLEEP. HELP ME TRY.

Excellent!

I JUST RETURNED FROM SEEING SHELBY LIVEIN CONCERT AND SHE PERFORMED LOTS OFSONGS FROM "SUIT YOURSELF". SHE AND THECD ARE TRULY REMARKABLE!!!! SULTRY,HONESTMINDBLOWING TALENT!!! IF YOU DO'NT HAVEIT BUY IT;TRACKS LIKE "WHERE AM I NOW""ICED TEA" & "SLEEP" ARE ENDEARING AND"GO WITH IT" , "I CRY EVERYDAY" & OTHERSJUST PLAIN ROCK WITH SOUL THE WAY ONLYSHE CAN DELIVER!!I HAVE ALL HER CDs ANDI LOVE 'EM ALL (THE POST-NASHVILLE ONESI LIKE THE BEST)THE SHOW SHE DID INALABAMA TONIGHT WAS SO GOOD I WISH SHEHAD FILMED IT ;BUT THAT'S WHAT SHE IS,PURE MAGIC ON "SUIT YOURSELF" OR HEROTHER CDs. HER SONG "WHEN JOHNNY METJUNE" IS A TOUCHING & VERY WELL WRITTENTRIBUTE TO THE PASSING OF THE GREATJOHNNY CASH(WHO'S MOTHER SHE PORTRAYEDIN THE MOVIE "WALK THE LINE")ACTING,SINGING,A TRUE "JEWEL OF THE SOUTH"TO QUOTE RODNEY CROWELL,& SWEET TOO;THIS IS THE 3rd TIME I MET HER;THE FIRSTTIME WE APPEARED ON THE SAME TV SHOWTOGETHER & SHE WAS ONLY 15 AND SANGSO GREAT I WAS AMAZED.SHE HAS A NEWCD I CAN'T WAIT TO GET ,BUT 'TIL THEN"SUIT YOURSELF" IS A MUST BUY! ROCKON SHELBY!,AND IF READERS OF THISREWIEW HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE HER LIVEJUST GO ! SHE AUTOGRAPHED MY CD OF"SUIT YOURSELF" AND REMAINS "THE REALDEAL."

Authentic, impossible to characterize (she isn't country, nor is she blues or rock), cool, sometimes jazzy but not jazz, sometimes raw and always honest, Shelby Lynne is a unique talent. I must admit that I don't listen to the radio nor do I read Billboard. Accordingly, I have no idea whether the recognition that comes from winning a Grammy has led to popularity and financial success. I hope it has. In a world full of money-making and talentless hacks this is one talented lady who really deserves commercial success.This entire cd has a laidback, home-grown feel. The material is uniformly strong. Johnny Met June and Rainy Night in Georgia are particularly strong. The supporting musicians are first rate but never intrude. If you know Shelby Lynne then I am preaching to the converted. If you don't and are considering buying this cd do it now. Then pick up I am Shelby Lynne and the lovely Just a Little Lovin'.

I have been a Shelby Lynn fan for a long time. This lives up to her past releases. I really like it!!

If you love great singing, guitar playing, and song writing, all of Shelby Lynne's albums are worth getting into your CD or MP3 collection. I just got this one and, more than any other of her other CDs, it reveals Lynne's superb musical talents. Track 12, the seven-and-a-half-minute "Rainy Night in Georgia," is the best version I've ever heard; its heartbreakingly subtle singing, guitar, and arrangement alone is worth getting this CD. What I especially like here is the stripped-down accompaniment, mostly featuring Shelby Lynne's own excellent guitar playing and under-stated vocals along with a few restrained studio musicians. Along with her recent " Tears, Lies, And Alibis " and much earlier " Temptation ," I highly recommend this sadly overlooked album from a musician who deserves much wider exposure.

This cd is not one of her best.But still love her earlier music

I had lost track of Shelby Lynne for a few years and so found this title late. I would have loved to see the tour that went with this recording because it seems like she was firing on all eight cylinders here. Don't miss this one; it is as good as anything she has done. You gotta admire her for playing it exactly as she feels and she feels it! You will too.

I Am Shelby Lynne is one of my all-time favourites. I bought the follow-up Love, Shelby was thoroughly disappointed with that over-produced album, thought back to her Nashville mainstream routes. "I Am" must have been that Bill Bottrell (producer) was the real creator of that brilliant album (as he was of Sheryl Crow's only worthwhile album - Tuesday Night Music Club).I crossed Shelby off my list. So very wrong, Suit Yourself is the equal (if not better) than I Am Shelby Lynne. Like that album the only substandard track is the first track, from then on it's 5-star from track 2 to the aptly named Track 12 (which Tony Joe White, who plays guitar and mumbles on it, called Rainy Night In Georgia when he wrote it). Believe the 5-star reviews below, those writers have real taste.I note that the only bad reviews are from iPod owners. Serves `em right for tying themselves into Apple, the Sansdisk Sansa is much superior, reads WMA and MP3, and doesn't look as though it will break if you breath on it. I speak from experience, I bought (lumbered) my wife with a Nano.

What an amazing recording with brilliant songs recorded in such a way that you feel part of it. Shelby is one of the few who manage to get their music to you in a personal way via the down to earth approach. There's lots of small surprizes here....remarks made while recording backing vocals left in the mix and bracelet scraping guitar noises which make this a living and breathing CD not another "fully polished, clean-shaven, totally perfect....but dead on arrival recording" Well worth buying if you want an introduction to Shelby...essential for anyone who likes to hear good songs played on real instruments. Go for it!

The is plain, simple country from a wonderful vocalist who it seems has been making great music for a very long time now. This is unadorned Shelby, mostly acoustic guitar and her calm and soothing voice. Great morning music.

ein Hochgenuss für die Ohren. Was man zu hören bekommt ist Shelby Lynne's angenehme Stimme, klar, ruhig und manchmal fast schon etwas melanchonisch gar traurig. Sehr wenig Studiomusiker im Background, fast ausschliesslich sie und Ihre Westerngitarre, reiner im Anschlag und im Fingerpicking geht kaum noch. Shelby Lynne versteht ihr songwriter Handwerk und ist ein Profi durch und durch und bleibt ihrer Linie treu. Die 12 Songs sind wirklich 5 Sterne und noch mehr wert, und keinesfalls geeignet als Hindergrundmusik bei Gespräche, sondern zum intensiven hören, träumen und fortfliegen.

I had the immense pleasure of seeing Shelby live at the Ottawa Blues Festival a couple of years ago. Since then I have purchased every disc I can find, both of her and any collaborations. This woman is highly underrated........she sings with such heartfelt sincerity and understated beauty.