Live from Central Park
This is how a live album should sound--full of irony, crackling energy, and stellar guest pairings. Those who looked askance when Sheryl Crow--never a girl's girl--joined Lilith Fair for 1999 may develop a different perspective after hearingCentral Park. After all, Lilith allowed Crow to share mascara wands and bond withChrissie Hynde, theDixie Chicks, andSarah McLachlan, and they all dropped in for her concert at Central Park. Hynde makes "If It Makes You Happy" into the ultimate bad-girl song, and whenStevie Nickstakes over on "Gold Dust Woman," you can almost feel the wind whipping through her witchy hair. But while Dixie Chick Martie Seidel's fiddle gives "Strong Enough" an authentic country feel, Natalie Maines's leaden vocal drags the scathing feminist tract down to a greeting-card level. And a grizzled-soundingEric Claptonserves up a tired version of theCream's "White Room." But Crow is in peak form throughout the 14 songs, exposing herself as a rocker in sheep's clothing who's more than up to the task of taking on the Mick Jagger role in an edgy version of theStones' "Happy," with Keith Richards as her sidekick.--Jaan Uhelszki