After almost three decades in the business Sheryl Crow has declared that her 11th album Threads will be final full-length studio release. So as a victory lap of sorts, Crow has decided to release an ambitious 17 track record made up of some new and old songs of various genres from country, rock, folk and beyond, into a single record. To make it more interesting, each song is a duet with another legendary artist — Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Mavis Staples among them, as well as more modern icons like Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile and St. Vincent.
With 17 tracks Threads may seem like a daunting listen, but each track has its own feel and that what makes Crow's supposed swan song an entertaining listen.There is something for everyone .
Highlights on Threads include: the album opener: Prove You Wrong (Maren Morris, Stevie Nicks),the rock/funk-ish: Tell Me When It’s Over(Chris Stapleton), the mid-tempo:Live Wire (Bonnie Raitt ,Mavis Staples), the rocking:Still the Good Old Days(Joe Walsh). But the piece de la resistance is Redemption Day, a song both Crow and Johnny Cash each song on their own but has been transformed and stripped down to a chillingly piano and vocal based track.
If Threads is actually Crow’s her final full-length record, then she can go out with her head held high. Threads is ambitious and a tad overstuffed , but it is a glorious reminder of Crow’s many talents.
