Something Worth Leaving Behind

After the success of her last album and single ‘I Hope You Dance’, Lee Ann Womack pursues that same cross-over route for the opening four tracks of Something Worth Leaving Behind. It’s not until track five that we get a sniff of her neo-traditional roots with fiddle, steel and mandolin all gracing ‘Forever Everyday’. After that it gets more interesting with a cover of Julie Miller’s song, ‘Orphan Train’, it’s fairly full-on sound carrying echoes of folk-rock.

Another insightful Julie Miller song, ‘I Need You’, follows with a sound whose hard edge lifts it above some of the more obviously mainstream material. It is also all the better for Buddy and Julie Miller’s backing vocals. Next up ‘You Should’ve Lied’ returns to a more saccharin sound with strings draped heavily over its shoulder. ‘He’ll Be Back’ takes an understated approach that echoes a more classic era, a late evening sound that recalls some of Patsy Cline’s more uptown excursions.

And so it goes, until the closing bonus track, a duet with Willie Nelson on ‘Mendocino County Line’.

Womack has a powerful, expressive voice, whether she’s singing roots or pop, but this is one listener who would prefer if she’d followed up the promise held out by the more traditional sound of her debut album.