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Detours
by Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 75 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.6 out of 10
based on 19 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 32 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Sheryl Crow returns from an eventful few years with her latest record produced by Brian Bottrell, who also produced her debut.

LABEL: A&M
RELEASE DATE: 05 February 2008
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Rock, Pop

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Entertainment Weekly
In Detours' subdued second half, though, Crow lays off the social commentary to address her own recent rough patches, with lyrics that grow more absorbing and intimate as Bottrell's eclecticism simmers down.
Read Full Review
90
All Music Guide
Crow hasn't been this free or fine since "Sheryl Crow," but there is an emotional directness on Detours that makes this a progression, not a retreat.
Read Full Review
88
Los Angeles Times
Crow's progressive lyrics hit like rubber-band pings fired by some joker in the back row at school. No one is likely to sing her verses at a march on Washington. But by addressing serious issues in the language of pop, they remind us that political speech and casual breeze-shooting can and do often intersect.
Read Full Review
80
Amazon.com
There's not a groan-worthy song on this standout rock/pop/folk/blues album.
Read Full Review
80
Billboard
The roots-rock of Detours is old-school-sounding Crow now with a heightened consciousness of the world around her.
Read Full Review
80
Boston Globe
Crow's strong, eclectic new album, "Detours," is filled with optimism about finding a way to correct her course.
Read Full Review
80
Slant Magazine
Crow has managed the nearly impossible: recording an album that's as intensely personal as it is fiercely political.
Read Full Review
80
PopMatters
Detours is so good that even the middling songs are chock full of taste treats.
Read Full Review
80
Mojo
That play of sonic summer and spiritual winter shades this. [Mar 2008, p.102]
75
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Crow's earnest, adult-contemporary crooning isn't as musically subversive as that of her protest-singer predecessors, but some of the scrappier cuts here ('God Bless This Mess,' 'Shine Over Babylon') are genuinely compelling.
Read Full Review
70
musicOMH.com
Detours may not be the most musically edgy album you'll listen to this year, but there aren't many people better at producing radio-friendly rock/pop.
Read Full Review
70
Dot Music
While 'Make It Go Away (Radiation Song)' lacks the subtle lyrical twist (and a decent tune) of some of the other moments on Detours, it is a sober counterpoint to the image of Crow as all hair, tan and teeth. It also contrasts with the album's stand-out, 'Love Is All There Is,' which brings us back to more familiar Crow country on an album of big themes and surprising depth.
Read Full Review
70
Rolling Stone
What holds these fourteen songs together is Crow's unwavering emotional commitment.
Read Full Review
63
The Phoenix
Cohesion’s where you find it, but headphone delights are everywhere.
Read Full Review
60
Q Magazine
'Love Is Free' ambles pleasantly, 'Gasoline' is 'All I Wanna Do' revisted and 'Detours' itself would grace any Best of. [Mar 2008, p.100]
60
The Guardian
Crow is often torn between simmering anger and hippie positivity. When she looks inward, however, her clarity is devastating.
Read Full Review
50
Blender
For all its ambitions, Detours aims too low.
Read Full Review
40
Hartford Courant
Detours clearly wants to be Bob Dylan but ends up being Bob Roberts instead.
Read Full Review
40
NOW Magazine
After 9/11, it seemed like every North American recording artist scrambled to come out with a political message album. Unfortunately for Sheryl Crow, words that to rhyme with “gasoline” have become painfully redundant in 2008.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 32 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Tom H. gave it a3:
Not her best work, very contemporary (read boring).

O. Gawd gave it a1:
I've never quite understood the allure of Sheryl Crow. Her first album had one good song on it. Her other offerings seemed to try to ape Madonna, but unlike Mrs. Ritchie, Crow can't sing. And she's no looker, either. So she returns to her first producer in a desperate attempt to remine gold. Not surprising. Sounds like it's time to detour back to your music class, Sheryl.

Chris D. gave it a10:
While I am not a huge S. Crow fan, I must admit that this is an impressive album. She mixes personal/political lyrics that do not sound preachy with catchy pop hooks to create a solid album.

Antonis P. gave it a10:
I own all Sheryl's studio albums amd believe me this is her best followed by her second (Sheryl Crow) . the lyrics show a more mature Sheryl amd the sound is so extraordinarily beautiful as a result of Bill´s excellent production and Sheryl´s vocals sound flawless. I consider this to be the best album release so far of the year!!! And I expect many awards too!

Robbie C. gave it a6:
It's actually all right! The songs "Love is Free" and "Shine Over Babylon" are great pop songs, and the latter half of the record has some interesting tunes too. The best she's done in probably 10 years... but still not as great.

Abi B. gave it an8:
I have a general bias against female artists, but from a true skeptic... this is a great record. Great messages put to great melodies. the track 'peace be upon us' brought tears to my eyes on first listen, and i tend towards the likes of foo fighters, zeppelin, oasis, pearl jam.. its like listening to a great debut record just cuz sheryl has been absent for so long.

Laura F. gave it a10:
Honest record from the heart with a lot of variety. There are some very catchy tunes on this CD and there is depth here as well. I feel it's important for an artist to sing about things that are pertinent and real in the world today and that is just what Crow has done with her latest CD, Detours. For all that she's been through, she ends up shining with this one!

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