by contributing author Matt Rogers

Lee Ann Womack’s highly anticipated sixth album, Call Me Crazy (2008), comes after a nearly three year long, but well-deserved, hiatus. But the absence hasn’t knocked Womack off of Nashville’s radar. The overwhelming success she garnered from her previous record, There’s More Where That Came From, has kept fans and industry insiders alike wondering just what she’d bring to the table the next time around, and if it was even possible to match what some consider to be a nearly flawless country record.

Fear not, though – she does follow-up. With powerhouse producer Tony Brown at the wheel, and some of Nashville’s best songwriters along for the ride, Call Me Crazy not only matches any of Womack’s previous efforts, but also further reiterates the fact that she is arguably one of the genre’s few remaining purists, and perhaps its most convincing female vocalist.

What’s so refreshing about the record is how closely it sticks to typical Lee Ann Womack formats. Nothing is overproduced or contrived, and songs are chosen based on merit, not commercial appeal. And as always, Womack’s voice is nothing short of stunning, as are the background vocals that shadow her throughout the record, which has been distinctive of her music for years.

In short, the album has all of the necessary ingredients of a classic. Her lead-off single, “Last Call,” has already generated quite a stir, so it’s only a matter of time before the entire record does the same.