Shadowland

This is basically classic honky tonk, but rebranded as a modern and elegant reimagining that you’d expect to hear in a late-night lounge or speakeasy. It was kind of cool at first, but it ran dry pretty quickly. By the end, I was honestly just begging for it to be over.

Not my style. I heard k.d. do a cover of Neil Young where the vocals are not affected and the Patsy Cline stuff is gone. Much more to my liking. Check out Hymns of the 49th Parallel.

I was not previously familiar with the music before listening, and I did not expect a country album. I can acknowledge that it was very good for what it is - her voice is good and the songs were fine, but this is not the sort of music I normally enjoy listening to, so I don't plan to listen again.

Country music is not for me.

The twang of the steel guitar.....

Inoffensive and very bland, for a 35 minute album it really feels like twice the length.

Bland Not my thing Dull Pointless

Hm. I really, really liked Ingénue! Like, I thought it fucking ruled, dude. I got it earlier and gave it a 5/5. I didn't like this one as much. It's a country record and I don't care for country. But I still really fuck with some k.d. lang apparently, that was kind of an unexpected discovery. So I'll check out her other records now that I've listened to the two on this list. she clearly has a lot of range. Shout out to melancholic lesbians.

I like the voice, but not the flow of the music, nor the sound (country twanging).

This is one of those - does this warrant being the 2nd album on the list artists. Is it bad? No. Am I the target lesbian for this? No, I’m not a woman. But I guess Canadian Crooning Country is a thing?

not really my favorite. i can hear these songs playing in a rundown bar in texas tho haha

This one got old quick. Albums with all covers don’t belong on this list. 2 stars because she does have a good voice.

Something about this album rubbed me the wrong way. I typically enjoy this type of music, and her voice was good, but I really did not enjoy this. Weird

Meh. Not a fan of this style of country

Too lame or not really my jam? Anyway nothing remarkable for me.

Well I got that wrong. I thought KD Lang was that Scottish bint. Obviously not. Now is it just me, or are about 30% of the albums on here either country or jazz? That said this was surprisingly palatable it was easy on the ears and her voice isn't unbearable. Doesn't mean I'd give it better than a 2.6, but it's got to be worth that. Almost a shame that I'll round it down to a 2, almost.

Let's play two truths and a lie. This album is: -Gay -Innovative -Boring

It was like okay , geezer looks like elvis . Not my like proper cup of tea but can manage with it

Amazing vocalist. Great range, good power, really nice tone. I unfortunately find the style of music outside of my interests. My mom was a big fan of this style of country music, and a big fan of k.d. too, so I've listened to it a lot, and I can just never get into it.

Get me off this k.d. lang train please. You know what, there are some songs on here that aren't too bad. I didn't mind Waltz Me Once Again Around the Dance Floor. It was a fun foot tapper. Not to mention, I can't ignore her voice being incredible and powerful. But seriously, please no more k.d. lang.

2.2 3x short and sweet just not my thing

- bei mir ist praktisch nichts von dem Album hängen geblieben, weder negativ, noch positiv - immerhin war es entspannt 1-2/5

A couple good songs. Dont know why they put two of the worst songs as the first two tracks. The production is so thin, but at least we get some pedal steel guitar.

Ouch... 2 matige country albums achter elkaar? Het zit even niet mee zeg! Deze is wel iets beter dan Merle, maar echt maar een kleeeeein beetje. Beiden zijn ontzettend saai en zo te vergeten. Moet zeggen; k.d. lang heeft een fantastische stem, maar het is verder zo saai en nietszeggend dat ik toch echt niet boven de 2 sterren uit kan komen. Het is een album vol ontzettend trage ballads die allemaal vrij veel op elkaar lijken. Zien dat dit maar 35 minuten duurde was dan ook een ontzettend grote verassing. Voor mijn gevoel heb ik een ruim uur zitten luisteren hiernaar. Het later werk is veel meer jazzy, dat pakt me ook een stuk meer! Er staat een prachtige solo op Busy Being Blue wat echt mn aandacht er weer bij pakt. Lukt het KD om dan toch op de valreep een 3e ster erbij te pakken? Het antwoord is nee, maar wel net niet! FAVO: Don't let the stars get in your eyes, Busy Being Blue

Not sure why this album makes me think of Sophie B. Hawkins. Maybe because they shared the cover of an issue of Interview magazine ...? This isn't quite as terrible as I though it would be, but it does sound kind of like an act you'd find at a fancy talent show aboard a cruise ship.

It turns out that k.d. Lang doing country-western covers is even more boring than her original work that followed this dull debut.

Great vocalist. Not my jam.

Once again. Her voice is great. Don’t at all like these songs though.

Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison walk into a bar, hit it off, and made a K.D. Lang. Lots of talent, but ol timey country styles just aren't for me. Props for moving the bar on several social fronts and repping Canada in a time where, in my perception, there wasn't a whole lot of recognition for Canuck music.

nah, not for me

I'm really sorry Miss Lang I thought you were a man until I heard your voice and you have a beautiful voice but just not my kind of music.

Inofensivo. Essa moça tem uma linda voz, não da pra negar, mas fora isso, esse disco não me fez sentir absolutamente nada. Ranking de 1 estrela eu reservo pra albuns que ativamente me ofenderam ou me frustraram, então vou deixar 2 pra esse aqui. Gostosinho até, foi bom de ouvir, mas não me fez sentir absolutamente nada. Entrou por um ouvido e saiu pelo outro. 2/5

Canadian nostalgia for the 50s. She has a great voice but tries too hard to sound like Elvis.

doet me niks...

The album cover had me thinking this was another Ute Lemper-like album, but it turned out to be country!? Weird. part from K.D. Lang's great voice, there is not worth salvaging from this album. Basically didn't find any song that I liked particularly much, and it all felt very forgettable.

The first KD Lang album I got (Ingenue) was a pleasant surprise, a strong 3 with some nice variety, so I was curious to listen to this...but...meh. The song choices aren't great - the country stylings are quite dull, and even a gorgeous song like Black Coffee is somewhat ruined by 80s synth sounds. The Honky Tonk medley is awful. Sometimes the power and unique qualities of her voice shine through, but a lot of it is smothered in WAY too much reverb, and it's just not a pleasant listen. Saved by 'Busy Being Blue', which is gorgeous, and the only reason this isnt a 1, but otherwise really not much to recommend. Again, I'm left wondering why this 50s pastiche is here instead of some of the actual 50s music being covered.

Eh…. Lovely voice. Boring material.

I Wish I Didn’t Love You So //

kd lang has incredible pipes and she puts them to a wide array of country & western and honky-tonk standards. it's not really my cup of tea, but it is impressive to hear how she bends her voice to suit each song.

Like many have said - beautiful voice shame about the music. 2/5 23/3/25

Her voice was just enough to push this to 2 stars, but only by a sliver.

I can see the value of modern country that isnt sung by old white men and i liked the slide guitar on this. But it passed me by without making any impression at all.

More like KD Range! What a spectrum of musical abilities. And a menagerie of sounds…

Capably executed songs by talented musos in a genre I can’t stand

Ehh, kind of boring. Liked some of the country stuff but overall 35 minutes felt too long which is not a great sign. High 2.

point6.

Pretty lounge music. It is amazing how much you can hear Brandi Carlile in her vocals. It is also just kind of creepy how female country singers from the 80s/90s pretty much only sing about being cheated on. I guess that has not changed a ton in the subsequent decades, but in recent times the vibe has turned from sorrow to retribution. In fact, the latter seems to have become our new national pastime. I liked sorrow better.

Ik dacht de hele tijd aan spongebob

I am not a fan of country. That being said the only song off this album is found semi enjoyable was There's Don't Care Who Cries Them which sound like it came off of a Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra album.

All covers and none as good as the originals.

Not my style at all. Not sure why this one is on the list. Seems unremarkable, even in its genre.

What a beautiful, soulful, melancholy country album who's singer has such a gorgeous voice. I'm not a huge fan of country and this held my attention so good job on that front :)

I appreciate some of Lang's music, she can certainly write and has a nice voice. However, "Western swing" music just isn't my thing and I found this a hard album to listen to.

She has a wonderful voice. I like the last 2 songs. Not my genre

There had to be country at some point, and for me it took until almost 400 albums in. Great voice, but I can't stand the music.

Not the worst thing in the world which is a win!

She has a good voice but not my kinda music. Liked one song which saved this from being a 1⭐️

Country warbling

Didn't really have any expectations for this. It's kind of a cross between country and holiday music. It's not bad by any means, but not for me.

2.1 First couple of songs I thought ok, I can withstand this. Nice voice, not my music, the slide guitar particularly grating but I can get through it. Half way in and I'm done. The singings got more grating, the slide guitar is beyond help, and I'm finding the rage boiling up inside. Not as bad as most country but not that much better.

I'll start directly with my grade for once: Musical competency: 5/5 (as for 99% of the records listed here) Production values : 1/1. Relatively timeless for a country album produced during the dreadful eighties. Vocal performance : 1/1. No one can deny the heartfelt vocal chops of k.d. lang. Personality: 0/1. It's a debut album exclusively made out of covers. Compositional work: 0/1 (or very close). It's a debut album exclusively made out of covers that are VERY predictable or "by-the-book". There's a nice song here and there ("Black Coffee", the title-track...). But not enough to make this LP a thrilling listening experience. Groundbreaking aspects or thematic impact or lyrics that would be particularly striking...: none of the above, 0/1. So that's 7/10 for *Shadowland*, but if we talking about *essential* albums here, only the last five points matter (musical competency is a given for acts reaching those heights, apart from the Shaggs, maybe). And this is how I interpret the five stars grading system in this app. Which gives us a 2/5 mark. In other words, there's nothing to really hate in this record, but there isn't really anything to love either. 1/5 albums are often more memorable than 2/5 LPs, very ironically. Ain't life cruel? Number of albums left to review: went over the 1001 line, those are the extra LPs mentioned because the lists evolved from one edition of the book to the next... Number of albums I'll keep in my own list: almost half, approximately, I've temporarily lost the exact count here Number of albums I *might* keep: a small quarter, approximately. Number of albums I won't keep: a large quarter, almost a third (including this one) Next, please.

country mit modernem poptouch und blues - trotzdem immer noch herausfordernd, länger als drei tracks zu hören.

Slog

Not bad, but I'm not really a fan. Some honky tonk country songs mixed with some (better) blues songs. Good voice, but it needs some good music.

Breathy country show tunes. Her voice is nice but the album is a chore to get through.

Look, it’s not for me, but I can appreciate the sheer talent of k.d. Tbh the only song of hers I previously knew was her cover of Hallelujah sung for the opening of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver (which is mandatory listening btw). I was definitely bopping my leg on the train to (Waltz Me) Once Again Around the Dance Floor and can imagine absolutely cutting a rug to this at line dancing.

Kjedelig

Not for meh

This was really boring album to me, although it has good instrumentals and although I love country, every song sounds kinda similar to previous one and next one

there's too much honky tonk on this list

Eh, I don’t know. Not horrible but not for me. 2/5

I don't get it, great voice though

Yeah it was alright. Not too much to add. I mean it was good but it didnt get me

I get this version of country but not a single Waylon Jennings album so far? Or Haggard. Zero Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Chet Atkins, but we must listen to this hotel lounge country caricature before we die? She has a nice voice, but for everything saying she's similar to Patsy Cline, I'd rather just listen to Patsy Cline.

Just a bit boring, and in a boring way and about 40 years outdated

This won’t last more than a few minutes in my memory. It’s fine for what it is, but I don’t need what it is.

She has a nice voice but overall was not my style.

Was not expecting a country album. A lovely smooth voice - but not really my bag - very MOR/hotel lobby vibes.

Not for me, it was kinda boring, but thankfully it wasn't too long and was over quickly.

Great voice but an overall generic, forgettable country

Wasn’t what I expected to be fair, so I suppose that’s something. I’ll never listen to it again of course, nor seek out any further offerings from the artist. But it’s fine for what it is I suppose?

Wasn't my thing. My grandmother would've love this. In fact, she probably did. Need to check her cassettes...

Fine

mahtava laulattaja la la la la lallaslaaa... ai että.. ai että.. Uskomaton albumi.. raskas.... noeii, kepistävä, kepestävää askelta laittaa alle tämä poika... anteeks tyttö heh... Joo nyt TÄMÄ on ALBUMI! En kestä kantrimusiikkia tai niin luulin! luulin että en kestä.. mutta tätä kestää.. tämä järisytti täydellisesti ymmärrykseni koko genrestä.. tämä... tämä kahdeksankytluvun kd lang albumi muutti koko vitun maailmankuvani ylös alaisin! näin siinä käy kun ei kuuntele musiikkia.. imagine this guy listen to taylor swift (top country artist). ollaankin yhtäkkiä salkku kädessä jonossa, odottamassa konserttilippuja mukavasti jonossa.. hiljaa ja katse eteenpäin.. busy bleing bue

God damn but this is dreary. There's no denying she can really sing, but a 40s / 50s inflected collection of country covers is very far from my cup of tea, and I doubt its validity in this list.

As a lesbian, I would like to apologize to k.d. lang and to all of my community. I wanted to like it. I tried so hard to like it. 2 stars

She has a great voice, and while I like the jazz and cabaret style influences, I absolutely detest cheesy country music. And cheesy country music it certainly is.

Meh

Blind album and artist. Not sure why, maybe it's the voice, or the style, but I did NOT like this...

She has an incredible voice, but there is just something about the way this album feels that seems hokey to me. It kind of reminds me of something you would see during a PBS pledge drive. Incredibly accomplished musicians making music that somehow lacks real soul to it.

It was ok. Country folk. Not my style

1. ztarz - 2 2. tearz - 1.5 3. moon - 1 4. love - 1.5 5. dance - 1 6. coffee - 1 7. zhadouu - 2 8. eyez - 1.5 9. criez - 2 10. cigarette - 1.5 11. blue - 2 12. honky tonk - 1

Soft vanilla blues

i prefer p.g. lang

It's no Ingénue, thats about all I can say.

Nice voice. It is really boring. Dull country tropes. Next.

No, please stop.

It’s not for me. It’s a mix of slow country ballads, honky to k and blues that I just can’t connect with. The song construction isn’t bad, but I don’t feel connected to it. Also knowing this is from the late 80’s, it’s not exactly breaking new ground. 2/5.

I do really like her voice. I still don't understand why an album of mostly cover songs makes this list.

Are Canadians even allowed to make country music?

Boring. This came out 22 years after Revolver, there's no excuse for it.

I normally don’t mind country music but this is probably a bit too sad and ballast for me

Not great. It’s all haunting country western.

Polished pop country With a sultry, yet full voice, And a Hollywood sheen

Not bad, kind of nice to listen to. Good voice but didn't find a lot of depth.

She has a great voice and talent. It's like strange jazzy country fusion. But I'm probably never going to listen to it beyond today. Don't let the Stars Get in your Eyes really took me back.

Country, folksy stuff that puts me to sleep.

I really did not enjoy this. I thought I was going to like this because I like "Constant Craving" but this style of music just felt cheesy to me. I was very disappointed.

Great production, mellow standards feel with orchestration. George Michael kissing a fool vibes

Country is still not my thing, but k.d. langs voice is gorgeous.

80s country wall of sound?

Kd lang singing country and Western songs is not something I need. She's a great singer, but doing a weak Patsy Cline

Ugh, country. Not my cup of tea.

Ihan ok taustamusiikkia. Siinäpä se.

Good vocals but not for me

A strange choice to be on the list, not her best work. 2.5

Good voice, but this style of maximalist jazzy/loungey country doesn’t do it for me. Plus, as far as I can tell, it once again appears to be an album full of cover versions, so it can hardly have been a pioneering release.

The sort of album you think is there anyone out there who actually super into this? Not bad but very tepid stuff 2.5*

Not my cup of tea

Not my thing.

Weiß nich was hier jetzt so besonders sein soll. Klingt für mich relativ standard und hat es bestimmt auch schon oft früher gegeben. Dennoch natürlich handwerklich gut gemacht. 2-3

She sings better than I thought

In an objective world, this is probably a 3 leaning 4 for the clean production and solid delivery around the various "covers." However, for my personal tastes this is a high 2 at best. Just really did not connect with much on here.

This album cover pisses me off for some reason. The best laser tag I've ever played was at Shadowland and that was 10000x better than this album. Not my kinda thing but had some moments. Low 2

with that cover how is this not a goth album

A voz é muito boa, mas ele não inova em nada, inclusive faz o inverso disso. É um álbum dos anos 80, quase 90, que tenta replicar um estilo country da década de 50. Para quem gosta desse estilo nessa época especifica, pode ser um conteúdo novo para adicionar ao repertório, mas que não vai inovar em nada em relação ao que já existia.

Not my style

Americana and I don't like this particular type. A bit like Chris Issak.

She's very good at singing a style of music I really don't enjoy

A lovely voice wasted on some vaudeville cover-by-numbers country songs. Lovely, but it's just karaoke.

Unique voice but not interesting for me

meh

Tämä versio kantrista on sävyltään tuoretta mutta sävellyksellisesti vähän geneerisen tuntuista - ehkä juuri tuoreesta sävystä johtuen. Black Coffee vaihtaa tunnelmaa toimivasti.

90% of it was just slow and sappy, with the same guitar tone I feel like I've heard in every country song ever. The vocal performance was good, but it felt wasted on this

oh no... it's country... Vocally, lang is smoothly gorgeous. There's just something about country that I can't do (I'll investigate that one day). Strangely, I do like smooth sultry blues, so "Busy Being Blue" was a nice find here.

Rather sweet. I like k.d. Lang very much. I loved discovering her later albums, had them on high rotation. This one, for all its polish/clarity and quality, is not my music. Sharing Shadowland with others, yes there is shared joy, it's so nice to hear others being delighted - but it's not for me. I so so so enjoyed later k.d. lang - it's still a special experience listening to her first confident work, her origin, even it's not my music. 2 stars.

i like the music and i like being exposed to more country sounds. i’m a little english country boy looking for big american country women. i did not know this was going to be my review when i started typing.

KDL is not for me, perhaps too country, I find this voice grates on me so not much in the album for me

Some people get genuine pleasure out of long distance running. One year in college I made a concerted effort to add cross country running to my fitness training and really pushed myself. By the end of the summer I could run 3 miles averaging 7 minutes a mile, and I ran over 7 miles one time. I hated every second of it; there wasn't a single moment that I didn't wish I wasn't running anymore. "Shadowland" is like that to me. Look, I'm not saying anyone did anything wrong, but...I don't want anything to do with anything on this album. Surely Lang is a talented vocalist (though she does seem like an imposter in the country space), but no thank you.

How does she have any entries on this list, let alone multiple??? Just about gets a pass. 44/100

Lol

Сочный лесбиянский голос под кабацкий аккомпанемент (местами как будто из бикини боттом) - не то, что может меня влюбить в себя, но и не то, от чего хочется поскорее выключить

Sometimes a great talent can put a twist on an old theme and it feels fresh - like Amy Whinehouse. It might have felt like this is what KD Lang was doing back in the late 80s, but it's justa covers band with a nice singer.

I wish I could be more receptive but just don’t dig it.

Shadowarse

Meh: country. K D Lang has a nice voice, I just don't like the music.

Not my favorite kind if music. Most of the songs have similar delivery of lyrics and become repetitive. 2/5 Won't listen again

Great voice, and I enjoyed this more than I expected to, but not my thing. 2.5 stars.

Great voice, ok country ballads

Langatmiger Blues mit brauchbarer Frauenstimme. Das Album fesselte zu keiner Zeit und ich war froh als ich es vollendet hatte. Wäre ich in einer Hotellobby könnte ich mir die Musik wenigstens schön trinken. Nur die Stimme der Interpretin rettet sie vor der Einsterne-Bewertung.

Shadowland is the debut solo album by Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang. This country and pop album performed well critically and commercially, leading to more solo work by k.d. lang. This album was certified gold in Australia & the US, and platinum in Canada. K.d. lang aka Kathryn Dawn Lang has an impressive country music voice and this album showcases it with wonderful backing musicians and producers. The mix of country and pop throughout the tracks made for a great project that most listeners will enjoy.

I didn't think they had A.I.muzack back then but this sure sounds like it.

So I guess this must be one of the "average if inventive country albums" the book itself refers to in its review of Ingenue. Fabulous voice. Massively not my thing. I did really like the old style crooner I Wish I Didn't Love You So. And the nightclub singer's Black Coffee.

spotify annihilated 9 out of 12 songs from the album lol

Nou ja okay. Hip hoppedie dee country. 2/5

2.5/5

meh she sound like she is doing a female elvis impression.

a bit to twangy

Didn't sound good to this man's ears

Well I can appreciate that it's probably a great example of what it is, early country western stuff isn't really my thing.

Didn't really enjoy this that much.

Soft 2

K.d. Lang goes country and it didn’t do it for me

You know, this is not a bad record. I'm not sure that I had ever listened to any K.D. Lang before I listened to this, and it's about what I expected it to be. It's like, americana/country adjacent, but also from 1988 so there is more saxophone than I think there should be, but that jives with the time. It's a fine record. Not bad, but kind of ignorable. I think it's cool that she was a lesbian that made country-ish music, but it's very western swingy which I'm not really into, and she does that thing I hate with her voice a lot where she like, swings it open so it does that deep vibrato thing but not holding a word out? There's got to be a word for doing that with your voice but I don't know what it is. Anyway I hate that thing it's so corny unless you're like, Ella Fitzgerald.

I guess it's just the style but these feels like it should be a christmas album.

This sounded like something that would be in a sad commercial about Alzheimer’s and then listed all of the side effects. I think it had potential but didn’t work well. It felt snoozy and weepy and just unfortunate.

A bit to much 'easy listening' and traditional vibes for my taste. Still some nice tunes.

Rápido 2. Country yuck.

country western lesbian dares to adopt a cultural identity that would seem naff and out of place to sing about heartbreak and loneliness the question is how do i make my hair look like that

Western Stars - 7/10 Lock, Stock and Teardrops - 6/10 Sugar Moon - 7/10 I Wish I Didn’t Love You So - 6/10 Once Again Around the Dance Floor - 8/10 Black Coffee - 7/10 Shadowland - 7/10 Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes - 8/10 Tears Don’t Care Who Cries Them - 7/10 I’m Down To My Last Cigarette - 8/10 Busy Being Blue - 7/10 Honky Tonk Angels Medley - 7/10 TOTAL - 85/120

De instrumenten zijn met vlagen nog wel oké (al is het voor het grootste gedeelte té kitsch), maar in combinatie met de zang gaat het richting het vieze. Een beetje een foute pornovibe, wat ik denk ik op die manier invul vanwege de saxofoon. In combinatie met de foto op de hoes word ik er toch wel wat naar van. Ik kan niet aan het beeld ontsnappen van vrouwen van wie de gloriedagen inmiddels wel erg klein zijn geworden in de achteruitkijkspiegel, die één keer in de week onder het mom van linedancen in een aftandse, donkere oud-voetbalkantine bij elkaar komen om stapelglaasjes Bavaria te drinken en Drum-shagjes te roken tot ze niet meer kunnen om elkaar dan met het zout en vet van de (gratis) pinda's nog aan de vies-gele vingertoppen met afgekloven nagels plakkend genadeloos schraal te vingeren op een toilet, waarvan de bril vol bruine schroeiplekken van de uitgedrukte peuken er al jaren scheef en half gebroken op hangt. Die daarna weer rustig terug gaan naar hun man en/of katten. Verder roept het geen specifieke beelden bij me op. De 35 minuten kropen voorbij.

Activisme > muziek

nice country throwback not too good though

Country & western music, which was a surprise - but I don't like it.

Mah, suoni e voce ricercati e dal chiaro piglio passatista.

At just over half an hour I thought this would be a pretty quick listen but it sure seemed like a slog. K. D. Lang is one of those artists where I can recognize that they have an undeniable talent but I have no interest in listening to them. I think a part of that is it seems like she is more interested in showcasing her voice than she is in serving a song so she over-sings the song. She also gives me the impression that she's someone who sings country but hasn't lived country. I didn't like the lounge-y stuff and hated the collaborative final song. Definitely a one and done for me and just squeaking past a one star rating.

OK

Had to keep this one down low, I don't think it was bad per se just couldn't connect with it.

Smooth voice. Maybe I’m grumpy today but I just wasn’t feeling it. Second 2 score today I’m issuing.

Pretty jumbled and shambolic. She can certainly sing, but maybe hadn't found her style at this point. Pleasant enough, and maybe better after a few more listens, but Canadian country pastiche is not for me.

Not for me

k.d. lang has one of the best voices in music, and k.d. lang is a Canadian hero, but... this album is just by-the-numbers crowd-pleasing C&W. Music for line-dancers, and I just can't get into it, sorry.

I didn't even know that k.d. lang started as a country singer. I suppose I am glad that gap in knowledge was filled due to this listen, but beyond providing context for her subsequent work, is this an important album for the list?

This sounds like it'd be played at Cars Land in Disneyland. I think it is pretty unoriginal cause a lot of these are covers but I can respect the vocal tone and quality.

Meh

Not a fan or her style or voice, but I can definitely see how she is so liked by the critics. I just really don't care for the old twangy county music.... Best Tracks: Black Coffee, Shadowland 2.5

Zucht.....op het tandvlees weer....

Ik had hier meer van verwacht.

The first song, a Chris Isaak cover, is quite good and the rest of the album is not bad either (better than Ingenue, generated a year ago or so). But the record is too much pastiche for me (just like World Party, Lenny Kravitz etc) - if in the mood I would just go for an original 50s album.

Not my thing really.

Great voice, but honestly this wasn't for me at all. Almost put me to sleep.

What? I'll have to go ahead and say this is the biggest shocker of an album. I thought I'd lang was pop.

I like her voice. I like the lyrics. I don't like the music very much. Favorite song: black coffee

Not as bad as some of the other country albums on this list

Quite a soothing album, sounds like an early 60s country album. Really nice to listen to. Only issue is that it feels like a long album, even though it's only 35 minutes long.

les initiales en minuscule pourraient laisser présager un projet un peu indie des annees 2000 mais non cest bien de la soupe des 80s

Maybe if I knew more about Americana, Western and Country music, I might understand why this album was included on this list. Maybe I would recognize novel approaches that shaped these styles in the decades to come. But I don't know much about these styles and I don't really care about them. Lang seems to be a good singer, but I couldn't care much less about the songs.

This was quite the curveball with the album artwork and Apple Music calling this pop. This was poppy but the closest pop album to country music prior to 2000. Overall I thought it was okay. She’s a good singer and the songs weee enjoyable but there wasn’t anything too memorable on this album. After a few listens it kind of melded together. 4.5/10

Black Coffee saves it from getting a 1 star... Everything else is so very dull

I don’t know what I was expecting from K.D Lang but it wasn’t that. I thought she was grunge or something. But a debut album of covers? Whatever the genre is lame.

Laconic would be my one word review... Not really anything you have to listen to...kind of surprised that it is on here.

I can only say the words 'k.d. lang' in the voice of a Jools Holland introduction. Unfortunately, Jools' inevitable nasal excitement isn't warranted by the record, which evolves from easy listening country into pure lounge music as the record progresses. k.d. has a nice, relaxing voice, but I can't imagine hearing this anywhere other than in an elevator. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: Honkey Tonk Angels Medley Date listened: 26/06/23

amazing voice, a little too honkytonk on this album

nice voice boring album

Patsy Cline wannabe

Not really a fan of this one.

Conocía k.d. lang antes de hacerse famosa por el affaire con los Rollin' y conseguí algún disco suyo que vendían como nuevo Country. Pero nunca lo vi muy nuevo y creo que se aprovechó siempre del ruido fuera de su propia música. Este disco empieza muy, muy clásico. Es tan monótono que lo he escuchado dos veces sin darme cuenta. Esto es algo prescindible.

Hotel music. Pleasant hotel music, but still.

I can't do it. The twang just eats away at my soul.

This was fine but sounded like a rip-off of earlier country artists, whose music I would rather listen to.

makes me sleepy this kind of classic-longe music. Okay for the background in a restaurant at best.

I didn't care for this album much at all, unfortunately. Just boring, however nice her voice is. 1.5/5

Angelic voice, yes, but a little too meh to warrant inclusion on this sort of list. Her grand moment is "Constant Craving", and that was still four years away.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Conway Twitty.

Great voice. But this thing needs to pick up the pace a little. A lot of similar sounding songs that don’t offer much variety.

Great voice. A bit too much farm emo for my liking.

A very nice voice. I have seen this artist live before. It’s not quite an aversion for me as I can find things to appreciate. However I think it’s just not for me!

She's got a great voice, but too much honky tonk. Shadowland is the best song - Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes is solid mariachi tune.

Country music is NOT my jam.

Ik vreesde echt voor mn leven toen ik de cover zag. Ben niet impressed.

Beetje saai

Tsja heeft geen indruk achter gelaten

Bwoah, ei se country edelleenkään uppoa. Onneksi oli sentään lyhyt levy.

Ei jääny mieleen

I found this weird. It sounds 30 years older than it is. A weird mix of country and jazz, that felt inherently cringe to me. She has a great voice though.

The voice is there, but the music is way too country for me to be able to get into. If it was up to me, I would list Ingenue and perhaps Hymns of the 49th Parallel instead of Shadowland.

By memory I didn’t mind the other k.d.lang album but this was a bit shit and really boring it’s not purposely dreadful though 2/5

Quite boring. Instantly turned into mediocre Western-themed-jukebox type background music and never once entered the foreground of my mind. Probably could use another listen, but I'd rather not do that because I'm pretty sure I would just be bored again.

Not for me

It’s interesting at least. Got kinda a cosmic country feel but more leaning towards easy listening.

Not much of a country person fyi. All of these songs sounded the same though. There are a few highlights (aren't that high) like Black Coffee and I Wish I Didn't Love You So but even those I can't really see myself listening to again.

Look, as much as KD sing well, I can't stand this. I felt like a granny listening to this, with the mix of adult contemporary, country and crooner jazz. Elevator music meets twangy country. 4,2/10

Well I'm floored. Especially after having listened to another KD Lang album. She's primarily a country artist??

not my style. country??? bof

Did not enjoy this album. I don't mind K.D's earlier work with the Inclines with her high energy country and western, cow-punk style, but with her solo debut, she drags this genre to a loungy C & W, easy-listening pace that makes me wonder if this was meant as parody or a genuine attempt to pay tribute to Patsy Cline. At times, the arrangements come across as cheesy and it was sometimes painful to listen to and is only saved somewhat by her always incredible voice. There are other albums of K.D. I would deem more essential than Shadowland.

Varför göra det likadant men sämre?

Meh…

This album kind of surprised me. That is because her previous album that I listen to on this list. I really enjoyed it even though it’s country. However, I don’t like so much. It was very very country.

I was gonna absolutely slate this and then I realised it sounds like the background music from SpongeBob which made me smile. Also Scott thinks it's Morrissey that quiff, I think it's the cramps cartoon logo.

I wish I liked this. She has a beautiful voice, she’s Canadian, and she’s always been proudly and defiantly her own unique self, a queer woman in music at a time when it wasn’t accepted or embraced. The ridicule I’ve heard about her all my life just because she didn’t conform physically to the rigid gender norms for female chart-topping artists in the 80s and 90s always made my blood boil. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been for her to forge such a successful career while unwavering in her individuality and values. I love so much about k.d. lang and truly appreciate what all of her successes represent for other marginalized artists, I just don’t like the country-western twang of it all. Maybe it’s subversive that she sings such a misogynistic and closed-minded genre, and if so, right on sister! But otherwise, I’m not into it. Respectfully not for me.

Ok Album Just not my type of music

I found this album quite dreary, just wasn't into it.

Something I could listen to in the background, nice to hear but I wouldn't go looking for it.

Too twangy country.

Ok lez talk about it KD! I see you momma. Love the vocals tbh.

Not for me

not really my thing, but pleasant enough. "produced by Owen Bradley, who produced Patsy Cline's best-known work." don't really know Patsy Cline but that was the comparison point I had on some of these.

Dull

Not for me. Catching up so could be just giving it a shallow listen.

did not really listen

Great voice, but was bored by the music.

surprised it was more bluesy and country than I would have expected

Not for me

Was expecting soft pop K.D. Lang. Got whining slow country, so syrupy I felt my blood sugar rise. Couldn't do it.

2 Going into this, I knew nothing about the artist or album, yet I had a bunch of questions - including but not limited to: "Who is k.d. lang and why does she look like lesbian Morrissey?" "Why does the Wikipedia article have no information outside of track and personnel listing?" "Why does the most popular song on this album have <500k on Spotify?" After listening to the album, all I can confidently say is that the Pasty Cline vibes are strong with this one... to the point k.d. almost sounds like a tribute artist. If you like Patsy, you'd probably like this album. If you find Patsy okay like I'd do, you'd probably find this album mediocre at best. No song on the album is particularly good or bad to me, but I do think it's a bit too much of the same slow burn to listen to in one sitting - I was kind of bored by the end. If I were in a dim-lit smoke-filled saloon occupied by cowboys drinking away their lonesome sorrows at last call, this album would probably hit the spot. In any other scenario... not sure I'd reach for this album. Favorite songs: Western Stars, Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them

Chill blues, kinda cliché. Begins to drag hard by the end. Didn't capture me. 2/5, I'd rather give it a 2.5 but...

Signs of better things to come, lovely strong voice but material is bland.

Yeah, no. Who asked for this? Nobody wants this. Why is this on the list? The only good thing I can say about it is that Lang's voice isn't terrible. Hate that nasty, fake twang but she's got chops which is the only reason this mess doesn't get a single-star review.

Helst til mikið köntrí fyrir minn smekk, en hún er með svo fallega rödd að það er auðveldlega fyrirgefið.

Highlights: Sugar Moon I Wish I Didn't Love You So Shadowland Artwork: 2 / 10 Rating: 4 / 10

I hate country music, and this is no exception. Got an extra star for a few catchy guitar riffs, and for the fact that she has a really great voice when she isn't doing that awful yodelly country twang.

Best Song: I'm Down to my Last Cigarette. Nice sultry song that suits her voice. Worst Song: Sugar Moon. I just really don't like that old-timey, everything is rosy aesthetic for a song. Overall: I enjoy K.D. Lang's voice, but this kind of crooning music is just not my style.

REALLY not my thing. Could not even make it through the whole album. No doubt there is some talent here. Almost nothing I can listen to. Only exception: Busy Being Blue. Enjoyed this one song. D+

country calmo quase jazz.

Really not my style but I can't fault her voice! 2.5/5 stars

Too show-tuney for me, but not bad

Country-folk suavecito con una voz un tanto demasiada pausada y melancólica. No aporta nada a pesar de que la voz es buena, pero lo noto falto de intensidad y de variedad

A little bit uninspired, but not entirely unpleasant. Definitely one of the most impressive voices of the albums we've had so far, badly let down by the backing tracks. I do think the album delivered what little it had to offer early, then tailed off towards the end, with even a strong cover of Down To My Last Cigarette unable to rescue it.

Levyn nimen ja artistin perusteella odotin joko gangstarappia tai trancea. Ei ihan osunut. Toisaalta ei kyllä levyn sisältö muutenkaan osunut omaan makuhermoon. Todella tylsää countryrallattelua, jota edes mukatarttuvat melodiat ei pelasta. 2-

Sure she has a nice voice, but it's like she made a decision to cover all the most hackneyed, schmaltzy songs she could find. I'm sure my grandma would have liked this.

5/10

Really confused by this albums inclusion on the list. Made in 1988, could be mistaken for much older. There is a mixture of country/blues/lounge/jazzy melodies which are nice and K.D.Lang obviously has real vocal talent but the songs she is singing are nothing ground breaking for its time. Rocky start, the initial song 'Western Stars' sounded very uncomfortable, more like a wailing cat than anything else but the album became more enjoyable at the introduction of 'Black Coffee' and the title song 'Shadowlands' where her smooth tones showed through. 'Busy Being Blue' also very notable.

6/10

Inoffensive, but that’s about it

There's only three songs on Spotify for this album, so I can't really give it a fair shake. From the three songs there are, it sounds like a mix of country lounge. If you like the image of someone singing a mix of this in a diner then this is for you. The music's as bland and watered down as the coffee in those places. Probably. I've never been, but that's what I imagine and this album has made me imagine it. Bland, watered down coffee. Best Tracks: Western Stars; Black Coffee; Honky Tonk Angels' Medley: In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)/You Nearly Lose Your Mind/Blues Stay Away from Me

Lots of country twang. This is a real throw-back record. Lots of ballads... apparently all covers written by others. This record could have easily been made 20 or 30 years earlier I think. I'm no expert on this, but I'm guessing this is inspired by the famed "Nashville Sound". The production and session musicians are very clean and professional sounding. It's maybe a bit too clean and polished sounding for me. I have to say, she has a cool voice - it's kinda smoky sounding and lower than you typically hear in female vocals. Still, this doesn't seem like a landmark album to me. Just some average or above average examples of this genre and not innovating in any perceptible way. More just paying homage to a classic style. If you like this genre you'll probably like this. If not, I'd skip it - seems like there are probably more important/canonical recordings of this genre out there.

Nothing like what I was expecting. It was alright but I don't think I'd listen again.

Lovely voice, very controlled. Not won over by the country, calypso, old fashioned style although the bluesy jazzy songs are good. Not my thing hence the lowish score, but a worthy album to include as a variation on popular country music.

I expected to like this album more than I did in the end. The vocals are great, but the songs are all covers and the k.d. lang versions don't really stand out. The instrumentation and production are somewhere between bland and boring.

Not my kind of music. Little too much twang for my liking. But, sounds really nice. Maybe I can get used to it. 2/5 first listen.

Not really my jam. Too old school 50/60s stuff.

This was a tricky one for me to rate, her voice is incredible, I just don't like the style of music it's applied too. Although busy being blue is a great trac

Liked her voice a lot but slow country ballads isn’t really my favorite type of music. Western Stars, I Wish I Didn’t Love You So, (Waltz Me)..., and Black Coffee were my favorite songs.

meh

4

“Shadowland” by k.d. lang (1988) Here we have a collection of better than average but unrelated love songs (written by others), well covered and produced, but I suspect most of them were bettered covered by others. lang’s voice is the focus, and it’s very good. Good range and control, with some very ambitious stylings in the higher mezzo-soprano reaches. Patsy Cline redivivus. A couple of country-clever lyrical flourishes (“Tears Don’t Care Who Cries Them”). Excellent backing instrumentals and vocals, if you’re into commercial country, pop, and a pathetic smack of blues. Arrangements are exactly what you’d expect from a production team trying to fuse country and jazz. Most of these songs would be good selections for the juke box on a 3:00am visit to an Oklahoma truck stop. But her forays into jazz (“Black Coffee”, “Shadowland” “Busy Being Blue”) fall flat. There seems to be a disconnect between her singing and what’s really on her mind. Too programmed to be considered a really good album. And the cheesy flaunting of Loretta Lynn’s collaboration at the very end makes one cringe. There really is such a thing as too much steel guitar. 2/5

Definitively, country is not my style....I like very few songs from this style, so this album was very boring to me. I'll dive it 2 stars for one or two songs that were comfortable for listen.

Couldn't locate but cuaght a few songs

this wasn’t even that bad i just did not like it got sick of it

Nah

Old timey country album. Not really a huge fan. But is pretty calming music and not unlistenable.

Don’t like crooning and don’t like country and western so this album was a bit of a non-starter! One extra mark for being at least listenable!

Not my cup of tea

Following Bobby D yesterday, she CAN sing. Songs are keech tho.

Could t really get in to this

Oh generator, how you love to waste my time. I specifically exclude country music and you serve me up this platter full of steel guitars and banjos. So be it. The singing and playing here is top-notch but the music itself is so backwards-looking that the whole thing feels like it's coated in a thick layer of dust. Too bad that the "alt" in "alt country" didn't mean being innovative enough to abandon all of the corny things that make C&W so regressive to start out with.

It's not for me at all. She has a great voice, but the country/Hawaiian vibes are so cheesy. It's only 35 minutes long but I could've sworn it went on for an hour.

Not my vibe. 50s elvis with extra cheese

No thanks.

I really tried, but it was fucking garbage and I turned it off halfway through. There was nothing significant about it at all. Every song appeared to be a cover of a really old track, except for one relatively newer track, and I can only imagine there are dozens (if not hundredsor thousands) of versions of these same tracks recorded by other artists - and I doubt the versions on this album were any better or worse.