Lucky (CD - 2004)

Personnel includes: Melissa Etheridge (vocals, acoustic guitar); James Harrah, Eric Schermerhorn, Mark Browne (electric guitar); John Shanks, Blues Saraceno (guitar); Rami Jaffee (keyboards, background vocals); Jamie Muhoberac, David Cole (keyboards); Rick Hopkins (organ); Mark Brown, Paul Bushell (bass); Kenny Aronoff (drums, tambourine, percussion); Matt Laug (drums, percussion); Josh Preese (drums); David Cole (programming); Jay Bellarose (loops); Bernie Barlow, Kipp Lennon, Brandi Carlile (background vocals).

Sixteen years after charging out of the gate with an attention-grabbing debut album, full of heart-on-sleeve singer/songwriter introspection mixed with full-throttle rock, Melissa Etheridge sticks firmly to her guns on 2004's LUCKY. While pop melodicism abounds, and many of the lyrics mine Etheridge's introspective streak, there's no shortage of wide-screen rock & roll abandon here. The intro to "Secret Agent' might have you thinking you've stumbled onto an Alice In Chains outtake by mistake, and "Giant"--seemingly a gay-rights empowerment statement from out lesbian Etheridge--is powered by crushingly heavy guitar-and-drum figures. Along the way, there's also acoustic-oriented balladry ("Meet Me in the Dark") and some bluesy/funky grooves ("Kiss Me"), but whatever the stylistic mode, Etheridge's raspy, emotive wail and nakedly soul-baring lyrics are at the forefront. minimize