Shawn Colvin
These Four Walls
(Nonesuch)
Colvin’s first disc of original material since 2001’s “Whole New You” is the most consistent release of her 17-year recording career. A faultless songwriter and storyteller, Colvin masterfully weaves tales of life, love and loss over a warm, inviting musical backdrop. There are no breakout hits—most remember Colvin for her lone top-10 single “Sunny Came Home”—but from the opening refrains of “Fill Me Up” to her poignant closing cover of the Bee Gees’ “Words,” there’s nary a slow spot on the entire album. Colvin may never relive her mid-nineties commercial heyday, but These Four Walls proves she’s still intent on perfecting her craft.
—Chuck Teed
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.