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Shelby Lynne
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 Entertainment
 Art
"Suit Yourself"
(Capitol)
Released May 24, 2005
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Since 2003’s "Identity Crisis", Lynne has taken control of the control board and been producing herself. While "Identity Crisis" was more of a studio album, "Suit Yourself" fits firmly into the alt country/roots music DIY niche and showcases Lynne’s mastery in blending full-sounding band tracks beside those with minimalist production.
Comparisons to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dusty Springfield are inevitable and persistent, especially when it comes to describing Lynne’s sound. With "Suit Yourself", think of a more restrained "Dusty in Memphis", which is purposely rough around the edges, and what you’ve got here is Shelby in her living room where she recorded the first-take vocals on some of the tracks before bringing in some equally serious talent to round out the production, including guitarist Michael Ward, formerly of The Wallflowers, and keyboardist Benmont Tench from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.
Lynne jump starts the album with the rollicking “Go With It,” a radio-friendly soulful alt country rocker if there ever was one. Of course in Lynne’s case, radio friendly is likely satellite, alt country and non-commercial radio where the good stuff like this gets played. The album’s second track is the restrained and slightly mournful “Where Am I Now.” Other standouts include “I Cry Everyday,” “Old Time’s Sake,” “I Won’t Die Alone,” “You Don’t Have a Heart,” and “Johnny Met June,” a bittersweet song about the reunion in heaven between Johnny Cash and June Carter, written the day Johnny died. The album closes with Track 12, a.k.a. “Rainy Night in Georgia,” a sexy and soulful rendition of the Tony Joe White classic.
What you’ve got to love about this album is the way Lynne’s vocals stand out on all of the tracks. It’s a voice that’s soulful, sexy, smoky, mournful, and lush, depending on the song.
Suit Yourself" should suit Shelby Lynne fans just fine and might even win her a few more. If this is what you get when you do it yourself, Shelby, please don’t stop.
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