This isn't to say that Sheryl doesn't sing a few songs that are downright traditional on the record. These songs include, "Homecoming Queen," "Waterproof Mascara," a song she wrote with Brad Paisley -- he brought the idea to the writing session -- and it's a stone Country power ballad that one can easily being performed by any of Country Music's top female vocalists through the years from Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Reba, Patty Loveless and Carrie Underwood. It's that good and Sheryl's vocal is simply beautiful. Finally, "Stay At Home Mother" is a song that any mother can relate to but especially for anyone who has to leave their children behind to go work for days at a time. It's sweet, heartfelt and clearly Feels Like Home's best songs.
Other standouts on the record include "Best Of Times," "Calling Me When I'm Lonely" -- with a ready-ready steel guitar drenched chorus, "Crazy Ain't Original" a song which could be a standout radio hit, perhaps after "Easy" runs its course on the charts. "Homesick" -- written with Chris Stapleton -- is a song that turns the "Homesick" phrase around and makes it showcase for someone who doesn't want to be home alone, "a place that's not about comfort but what about what used to be."
Feels Like Home is varied with strong melodies and everything most people have grown to love about Sheryl Crow's music. She is distinctly herself and the fact that her music is now called Country isn't any different than Darius Rucker's 'crossover' to Country. If Feels Like Home proves anything it's that she's genuinely making the move to Country and that's all that the gatekeepers at radio and longtime fans of the genre want out of their artists, a commitment to making great music and Feels Like Home is definitely that.
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