"I want to see just how far country music can go and still be country music." So says Lee Ann Womack - and her new album puts flesh on that aspiration.

Produced by Mark Wright, I Hope You Dance has all the expected gloss and polish and a title track that is already charting high in the States. Which means she's got it right on that end of things, at least.

But taken on its own terms, it is still a good album, one where the choice of songs is thoughtful and balanced without ever being too bland or poppy.

Personal preferences are for the trio of closing tracks - Bruce Robison's 'Lonely Too', Buddy and Julie Millers' 'Does My Ring Burn Your Finger?' and the bluegrass toned 'Lord I Hope This Day Is Good'.

Even at its most contemporary the record still feels like country.

Which is more than can be said about a lot of what Music Row currently puts out. For that we can be thankful and Lee Ann Womack can be proud.