Shelby Lynne

Even back when she was flanked by the comparatively opulent production of her ’90s Nashville albums and her nervy 1999 pop breakthrough *I Am Shelby Lynne*, the Alabama-bred Lynne had a way of exercising steadfast, knowing restraint in her performances. Eventually, she adopted a more simplified, self-sufficient recording approach—like the one showcased on her new, self-titled full-length—and still managed to suggest entire elusive worlds of desire with her deft, sensual gestures. Lynne laid down part of this 11-song set in the process of filming an unreleased movie about the artistic spirit, even utilizing lyrics from director/screenwriter Cynthia Mort, and called in some contributions from seasoned players including Benmont Tench. But the album feels like the work of a singer, songwriter, and producer who prefers more cloistered communication. “My Mind’s Riot” and “Revolving Broken Heart” are sketches of oppressive solitude and the pain and pleasure of pining. During the slinky R&B number “The Equation,” Lynne\'s murmurings of lust make it feel like a private preoccupation. Her soulful vamps during \"Weather\" savor appetites stoked by isolation. \"I can taste the weather,\" she pauses, sensitivity heightened, \"stirring me up, stirring me up, stirring me up.\"

Shelby Lynne's self-titled album (not to be confused with I Am Shelby Lynne from a couple of decades ago) comes as a smooth piece of pop, but a strange bit...