What the World Needs Now Is Love
may be titled after a
Burt Bacharach
and
Hal David
song, but it as far away from that song musically as one can get and still remain popular music. On her alleged return to her
country
roots,
Wynonna Judd
cannot resist the temptation to allow many forms of
pop
rock
into her sound. But that's fine; just fine. On her first studio outing in three years,
Judd
turns in a performance that is consistent all the way through, and one that seamlessly blends that astonishing voice of hers with banjos, strings, electric guitars, mandolins, pedal steels, pianos, and lots of drums. In addition to the heartbreakingly beautiful reunion of the singer with her mother
Naomi
(
"Flies on the Butter"
),
Wynonna
also collaborates with ueberguitarist
Jeff Beck
on the shimmering
version of the
Mick Jones
classic
"I Want to Know What Love Is."
This version may replace the original as its emotion is honestly wrought and pouring over the brim of the track's arrangement. Also featured here is her version of
"Burning Love,"
the old
Elvis
nugget from the film
Lilo & Stitch
, and
"You Are,"
from the
Someone Like You
soundtrack
. There are contemporary arrangements galore, but
's voice carries them into the realms of history as one can hear voices as diverse as
Connie Smith
's and
Aretha Franklin
's in her delivery and phrasing. Tracks such as
"Sometimes I Feel Like Elvis,"
and the rollicking barnburner
"(No One's Gonna) Break Me Down,"
which could have been written by
Nick Lowe
Dave Edmunds
, deliver intensity, honesty, and theatrics seamlessly.
is a stellar outing from one of the most singular talents in the
music pantheon. If this doesn't cross over, then radio really is dead. ~ Thom Jurek