Now is Shania Twain’s first studio release since 2002’s Up, and her first entirely self-penned production. It’s a heady mix of pop and country like you might expect, with sometimes delightfully predictable lyrics and some really catchy hooks.

By Pam Stallard

Standout tracks for us on the first listen were Poor Me, I’m Alright, Where Do You Think You’re Going, and Soldier. Poor Me is memorable mainly because of the brilliant wordplay and Shania-esque sing-along-ability, whereas I’m Alright takes the album in a cool but optimistic tone with a rousing chorus and a rock-solid drum beat. As a track, it wouldn’t be out of place on 1997’s Come on Over, the album that projected Shania to first-name-only fame worldwide. Where Do You Think is a soulful break-up anthem which will sound delightfully familiar to Shania fans.

The upbeat tracks on the album, such as Let’s Kiss and Make Up and Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed, have the tendency to sound a little over-produced, giving them more of a vibe of the ‘Indian’ style version of Up, disrupting the flow of the sound of the album somewhat. Twain has spoken about her marriage breakdown and battle with Lyme disease before, and both of these experiences shine through in the narrative of Now, as does her relationship with son Eja.

Overall, Now is sure to be a crowd-pleaser; just enough bluesy country twang for hardcore Shania fans, combined with a very accessible and positive pop which should fit well on a radio playlist.

Now by Shania Twain is out now.