"It all becomes a bit by-numbers": Sheryl Crow fails to evolve on unambitious Evolution album

Sheryl Crow's 12th album Evolution starts strongly but soon falters

Sheryl Crow: Evolution cover art
(Image: © Big Machine)

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Despite insisting that 2019’s duets album Threads would be her last, Sheryl Crow returns with more “music from my soul”, and she’s on a winner to begin with as the opening brace of singles Alarm Clock and Do It Again play to her strengths: i.e. smooth, groovy, radio-friendly rock. 

Love Life also bops along nicely on a bed of ‘na na na’s. After that it all becomes a bit by-numbers. 

Have a dig at AI in Evolution by all means, but write a better tune to go along with it; Don’t Walk Away drags like it’s got a boulder tied to its ankle; and the forced jollity of Broken Record is so wide of the goal it’s out for a throw-in. 

Crow redeems herself somewhat with the useful chorus of the I-love-my-kids closer Waiting In The Wings, but only somewhat. Some good singles, as always, but unfortunately a long way from career highlights Sheryl Crow and The Globe Sessions.

Pat Carty

Pat Carty is a writer for Irish monthly music and politics magazine Hot Press. You'll also find him at The Times, Irish Independent, Irish Times and Irish Examiner, and on radio wherever it's broadcast.