Lucky
Melissa Etheridge's considerable talents as writer/singer/performer have often seemed confounded by expectations--the artist having burdened herself with more than a few of them. Etheridge spent the '90s alternately proving her mettle as one of the era's most successful female rock artists (peaking with the multi-platinumYes I Am), trying to recapture those glories, then plumbing the depths of an all-too-public romantic flame-out on '01's confessionalSkin.  But here, the singer seems content to engage in a little musical soul-baring of a wholly different stripe, showcasing her bluesy, ever expressive chops on a record that refuses to apologize for its contemporary production slickness and unashamed positive vibes. The ghosts of recent personal troubles get swept away by the breezy of "When You Find the One" and the romantic anthem "This Moment" and the wistful "Will You Still Love Me." "Mercy" engages her in a compelling, reflective duet with vocalist Bernie Barlow while the spare, bittersweet "Tuesday Morning" pays tribute to the heroes of 9/11. There's a confidence born of maturity and hard-won wisdom throughout--and the courage to simply play it straight down the middle of the road.--Jerry McCulley