What a Song Can Do

"What a Song Can Do," the title track of Lady A's ninth album, is a testament to the power of music, how it can function, among other things, like a time machine, therapy, affirmation, or seduction. It's a sentiment that rings true yet also puts into perspective how the trio works with a relatively limited aural palette on What a Song Can Do. The 14 songs never deviate from the middle of the road, a path they follow with the urgency of a Sunday afternoon drive. Occasionally, the tempo picks up a little -- "Like a Lady" is a deliberate homage to the stomping arena-country of Shania Twain -- but even then, the contours are smooth and shiny; it's soft and comforting, not stirring. This blend of country-pop and adult contemporary is Lady A's comfort zone and, if anything, the trio sound a shade too comfortable on What a Song Can Do. Apart from some heavily electronic rhythms -- most notable on "Friends Don't Let Friends," which ropes Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, and Darius Rucker in for support -- there aren't any new wrinkles in the formula; there's no attempt to try something new. That doesn't necessarily mean What a Song Can Do sounds stuffy or stiff. Lady A and producer Dann Huff are sharp pros, so they give the arrangements enough room to be breezy and help keep the melody in the forefront -- tricks that make for a very pleasant listen, even if it is quite a familiar one. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine