The Lord loves a trier as my mother says, and Sheryl Crow is certainly persistent. She’s due to release her sixth studio album, Detours on 18 February.

Sheryl’s hooked up with Tuesday Night Music Club producer, Bill Bottrell for what she describes as the most honest record she’s ever made.

Long time Crow fans will be expecting a blast of Sheryl’s political and social commentary from the Detours album –

“It’s environmentally conscious. Music is so focused on what’s hot right now and making a quick dollar. We don’t focus on the important things anymore. I hope to encourage the songwriters of this generation to write more about what they see going on in the world,” she says. “I think we as celebrities have a responsibility to be good role models. Millions of people look up to us and listen to our music. The messages need to be clear.”

You can get more insights from Sheryl into the making of the album in this About.com interview with Kim Ruehl. I think the biggest challenge for any songwriter with a social conscience is to put their views across without sounding preachy or condescending.

Certainly, Sheryl seems to have a lot to say at the moment. I’d be interested in taking the album for a spin and hearing how it sounds. If you’ve already heard Detours, drop me a comment and let me know what you thought of it.

Track Listing

1. God Bless This Mess
2. Shine Over Babylon
3. Love is Free
4. Peace Be Upon Us
5. Gasoline
6. Out Of Our Heads
7. Detours
8. Now That You’re Gone
9. Drunk With The Thought Of You
10. Diamond Ring
11. Motivation
12. Make It Go Away (Radiation Song)
13. Love Is All There Is
14. Lullaby For Wyatt