Lee Ann Womack’s Dive into Craziness: Revisiting a Seemingly-Not-So-Distant Decade Ago
From Oct., 2008:
Calling all crazies: Lee Ann Womack’s here to call you out…starting with “Last Call,” an instant country classic featuring aching heartbreak and alcohol-rocky with a twist. Accompanied by a sufficiently sad video, the piece is the first single from Womack’s eighth album, set to be in stores on October 28th. Written by Erin Enderlin (“Monday Morning Church”) and Shane McAnally, it finds Womack wandering the streets when her (presumed) ex calls her to pick him up and lays loving lies on her all the while. Of special lyrical prowess are the changes in chorus from the first to last, describing the descent of song type and a glass of Johnny Walker Red. Also especially clever is the play of “I’m always your last call – me crazy,” probably how the album title was conceived, too.
Elsewhere, there’s the unstoppable sentiment in “Everything But Quits,” a duet with George Strait (their second together). The Womack/Strait pairing is a straight shot that clearly just comes natural. Southern rock sensation Waylon Payne, who starred as Jerry Lee Lewis in the movie Walk the Line, wrote the smooth “Solitary Thinkin’.” And Keith Urban adds a unique flavor to the sweet circle of the five-minute spellbinding story of “The Bees.”
Among the other special songs making a stand on Crazy are “New Again” (co-written by Womack); “If These Walls Could Talk,” and “I Think I Know.” “Know” is beautiful, while also possibly one of the most depressing works ever – with lines like “I think I know what killed Keith Whitley” and “I think I know what took Old Johnny” flowing from the pens of hit writers Tom Shapiro, Tony Martin and Mark Nesler. Recording artist Whitney Duncan also lends in lyrics (on “I Found It In You”). Brent Mason, Chris Stapleton, Wes Hightower, Jason Sellers, and other notable talents share vocals and musicianship to the collection. The album is produced by the acclaimed Tony Brown.
Crazy is as crazy does, and Lee Ann plays the part with style…so she just might be the lunatic you’re looking for.
[Originally written for AngryCountry.com].