From the opening notes of the yearning "I Know Why," it's immediately evident that 'Wildflower' Crow's first full-length release in three years is a dramatic new direction for the nine-time Grammy winner.

The Missouri-born singer-songwriter is celebrated as one of our last true rock stars, and there was every reason to believe that her blossoming relationship with one of the world's greatest athletes would result in more light-hearted, uptempo hits like "Soak Up the Sun" and "All I Wanna Do." Instead, though, the new album is a collection of intimate, introspective compositions, heavy on string arrangements, rather than guitar solos.

The tone of 'Wildflower' may be bittersweet, but Sheryl Crow's feelings about her new album are pure bliss. "It's the only record I've ever made where when the album was finished, I didn't go back and say "we need this" or "we need that,'" she says. "I stand behind all my work, but my other records I love as redheaded stepchildren, because by the time you've finished them, you have so many different relationships to the experience of recording them. But this one, I can just listen to it and feel proud of the leap that I've made as a songwriter."

Tracks:

1. I Know Why
2. Perfect Lie
3. Good is Good
4. Chances Are
5. Wildflower
6. Lifetimes
7. Letter to God
8. Live It Up
9. I Don't Wanna Know
10. Always On Your Side
11. Where Has All the Love Gone
12. Wildflower (Acoustic Version)

(UNI$)