Shelby Lynne is a country record. But it is a darn good one. In the past, Lynne has tried to make standard country records like the bland, carefully packaged, market targeted work that tops the country charts, mixing country and 70's style glossy pop. It's not a coincidence that Bill Bottrell, who has produced music for a queen of the genre Sheryl Crow, cowrote most of the songs, played a lot of the instruments and produced I Am Shelby Lynne. Lynne especially seems like Crow on a couple leisurely, down and dirty country rockers.
Life is Bad is fun and loose with handclap percussion.
Why Can't You Be tries a little too hard for a grungy languor but the song advising a guy to relax is still charming. I don't want to overwork the Sheryl Crow analogy. Besides having a southern accent, Lynne is different in that her music is generally pretty mellow. Shelby Lynne is a well made and very listenable if not incredibly exciting record. I Am Shelby Lynne gets off to a stunningly good start with Your Lies.