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Shania Twain entered a self-imposed exile following the supporting tour for 2002's Up!, suffering from a then-undisclosed contraction of Lyme disease. Troubles compounded, as they often do. Twain split from her husband, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, in 2008, a traumatic event on its own that was complicated by the fact that he was her collaborator on the blockbusters The Woman in Me (1995), Come on Over (1997), and Up! This meant she had to start over personally and professionally, which explains the long delay between Up! and Now, which was released in September of 2017. Many trends have come and gone during that 15-year gap and Twain -- assisted by not one producer but a roundtable, as is standard for 21st century blockbusters -- decides to split the difference between chasing fashion and staying true to her glitzy country-pop. It's a tricky move made harder by the fact that so much of her '90s appeal rested on her unfettered exuberance, and that sunniness is understandably tarnished due to the bruises she sustained during her difficult hiatus. Twain addresses this pain on Now -- sometimes directly, sometimes elliptically -- but she makes it plain that she's come out from the darkness, celebrating that she's "Home Now" with the "Light of My Life" and "Life's About to Get Good." Worthy sentiments all, but the problem is these songs -- and Now in general -- don't feel nearly as bright and cheerful as Twain's records with Lange, nor do they deliver the same kind of sweet, sentimental rush on the ballads. Now is melodically undernourished, with hooks never quite materializing in either the choruses or the excessively polished arrangements designed to support Twain, not sell the tracks. That production, a mishmash of Vegas showstoppers and feints toward the electronic-glazed AAA charts, feels as hesitant and inarticulate as the songs. Sometimes, Twain's signature charm surfaces -- "Because of You" (present only in the album's 16-track Deluxe Edition) has a lovely, gentle sway, "You Can't Buy Love" is a fizzy bit of bubblegum in the vein of Amy Winehouse's "Valerie" -- but Now feels fussy, as if every element was triple-guessed because the pressure to have a triumphant comeback was too great.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Ron Aniello, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Chamberlain, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Greg Leisz, Guitar, Dobro, AssociatedPerformer - Gabe Witcher, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ross Petersen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Clif Norrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Book, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Lebret, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Micheal Peterson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roget Chahayed, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Kaveh Rastagar, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Viola, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Aniello, Producer, Banjo, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Max Collins, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Gabe Witcher, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ross Petersen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ROY BITTAN, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Phillips, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Koma, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Book, Editor, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sadaharu Yagi, Additional Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Lebret, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jackson King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Tuggle, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Noam Pikely, Banjo, AssociatedPerformer - Kris Mazzarisi, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Leonard, Bouzouki, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jake Gosling, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Percussion, Piano, Tambourine, Synthesizer, Guiro, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Olle Romo, Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Leonard, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Synthesizer, Snare Drum, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Viola, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Aniello, Producer, Engineer, Electric Guitar, Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Chamberlain, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gabe Witcher, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ross Petersen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Koma, Producer, Engineer, Synthesizer, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Book, Editor, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Lebret, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roget Chahayed, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Noam Pikely, Banjo, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tim Lauer, Keyboards, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lowell Reynolds, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, Vibraphone, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Fitchuk, Drums, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jacquire King, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Electric Guitar, Assistant Mixer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Kris Donegan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kolton Lee, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Spencer Thompson, Electric Guitar, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Pellegrini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Budum, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eli Beard, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ron Aniello, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Richards, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jude Cole, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Chamberlain, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Greg Leisz, Pedal Steel, AssociatedPerformer - Gabe Witcher, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Wade, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Clif Norrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Koma, Sound Effects, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Book, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Lebret, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Micheal Peterson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ron Aniello, Producer, Engineer, Upright Bass, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gabe Witcher, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ross Petersen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ROY BITTAN, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Koma, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass, Synthesizer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Book, Editor, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sadaharu Yagi, Additional Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Lebret, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jackson King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Noam Pikely, Banjo, AssociatedPerformer - Kris Mazzarisi, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lowell Reynolds, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Fitchuk, Drums, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leif Shires, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jacquire King, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris West, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Book, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jordan Lehning, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Kris Donegan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Oscar Utterstrom, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kolton Lee, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Spencer Thompson, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Pellegrini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Budum, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eli Beard, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jimmy Baldwin, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Leonard, Electric Guitar, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jake Gosling, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Tambourine, Synthesizer, Clapping, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Clapping, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Coltman, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tommy Culm, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer - andy nixon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - matthew gooderham, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Viola, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Aniello, Producer, Engineer, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Chamberlain, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gabe Witcher, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ross Petersen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ROY BITTAN, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Koma, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Book, Editor, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sadaharu Yagi, Additional Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Lebret, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jackson King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Noam Pikely, Banjo, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kristin Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, String Arranger, Keyboards, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - DAVID DAVIDSON, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Angell, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Lowell Reynolds, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, Vibraphone, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Fitchuk, Drums, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Shania Twain, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jacquire King, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Lucey, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kris Donegan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Lamb, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Kolton Lee, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Spencer Thompson, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Pellegrini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Budum, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eli Beard, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Hilda Sarighani Reist, Cello, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Shania Twain entered a self-imposed exile following the supporting tour for 2002's Up!, suffering from a then-undisclosed contraction of Lyme disease. Troubles compounded, as they often do. Twain split from her husband, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, in 2008, a traumatic event on its own that was complicated by the fact that he was her collaborator on the blockbusters The Woman in Me (1995), Come on Over (1997), and Up! This meant she had to start over personally and professionally, which explains the long delay between Up! and Now, which was released in September of 2017. Many trends have come and gone during that 15-year gap and Twain -- assisted by not one producer but a roundtable, as is standard for 21st century blockbusters -- decides to split the difference between chasing fashion and staying true to her glitzy country-pop. It's a tricky move made harder by the fact that so much of her '90s appeal rested on her unfettered exuberance, and that sunniness is understandably tarnished due to the bruises she sustained during her difficult hiatus. Twain addresses this pain on Now -- sometimes directly, sometimes elliptically -- but she makes it plain that she's come out from the darkness, celebrating that she's "Home Now" with the "Light of My Life" and "Life's About to Get Good." Worthy sentiments all, but the problem is these songs -- and Now in general -- don't feel nearly as bright and cheerful as Twain's records with Lange, nor do they deliver the same kind of sweet, sentimental rush on the ballads. Now is melodically undernourished, with hooks never quite materializing in either the choruses or the excessively polished arrangements designed to support Twain, not sell the tracks. That production, a mishmash of Vegas showstoppers and feints toward the electronic-glazed AAA charts, feels as hesitant and inarticulate as the songs. Sometimes, Twain's signature charm surfaces -- "Because of You" (present only in the album's 16-track Deluxe Edition) has a lovely, gentle sway, "You Can't Buy Love" is a fizzy bit of bubblegum in the vein of Amy Winehouse's "Valerie" -- but Now feels fussy, as if every element was triple-guessed because the pressure to have a triumphant comeback was too great.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:41:24
- Main artists: Shania Twain
- Composer: Shania Twain
- Label: Mercury Nashville
- Genre: Country
© 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2017 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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