The exclamation points are back! They're right at the forefront, added to the end of "Giddy Up!," the song that opens
Queen of Me
, effectively announcing that
Shania Twain
is done with the introspection that characterized her 2017 album
Now
. There's nary a trace of self-reflection on
. Those moments have been replaced by self-affirmations and celebrations, reverie punctuated by just a slight hint of romance. It's a shift from not only the manicured, mature
but the boot-stomping hooks of
Twain
's imperial phase, as it moves her quite far away from country.
is an album designed to bring
firmly into the pop mainstream. The change is deliberate.
collaborates with producers and writers who have worked with such 21st century superstars as
Justin Bieber
,
Pitbull
, and
Halsey
, all in an effort to give
a fresh, sparkling sheen. There's no question that she's game -- she throws herself into the songs, not hesitating when "Pretty Liar" calls for her to curse -- and her spirits are so high they nearly counter the cacophonic cheer of the production. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine