Shadowland

Very cool. If Marty Robbins was a woman, he would have sounded a lot like this.

5/10

This isn't country... I've been tricked. It's jazzy lounge music reminiscent of 40s and 50s clubs. It's the very definition of easy listening, with a soulful voice and cozy sound, utilizing techniques from jazz, blues, and country. It's fine to listen to, but some songs suck, and I don't think there's anything to write outstanding about any of the tracks. Favorites: Western Stars, I Wish I Didn't Love You So, Black Coffee, Busy Being Blue

Mind blowingly beautiful voice let down by the incessant tacky love songs and faux noir laid out on a piano sultry sax numbers. Got super confusing jumping between full on noir piano, to honky tonk country then back again. ( I was trying to be funny saying honky tonk without realising that there's a whole closing track called Honky Tonk Medley. Good lord 🤦🤦🤦🤦. Sorry KD, I do not in fact love that two fiddle sound. The banjo can get fucked too.

Holy shit. The opening to this record is not at all what I expected. Sounds like Willie Nelson and his band are backing such a beautiful voice. I love this and I'm truly surprised. I mean, I knew that I liked what I know of K.D. Lang ("Constant Craving" and that's it). Her voice, the surprise that she's actually a country artist, the lack of Southern baggage she carries as a Canadian, and my excitement to listen to this in the summer when I want to nap in a hammock...all lead to a surprising 4 stars. If this wasn't her debut, it might be a 3. Because it's not super original. But to come out of the gates so strong, is just incredible. I look forward to listening more to this record and her other music.

This is solid, classic country music. It's not really my cup of tea, but k.d. has a great voice, it's well-suited to the genre, she's believable. I really liked "My Last Cigarette" - if that's not a near-perfect country-western song, I don't know what it. On the whole, I'd put it up there with Patsy Cline, George Jones, etc - well executed, but nothing really mind-blowing.

The album is good K.D Lang has a beautiful voice I want to get into more of his music

7/10 not a big fan of this genre but I really liked the bluesy rock and roll sound I Wish I Didn’t Love You So, Black Coffee, Shadowland, and Tears Don’t Care Who Cries Them were some of the songs I liked most overall a fun album but I don’t think I want to hear any other songs in her discography unless they’re also on this website/book

Starts pretty well, but then I got bored of it.

After exploring many country touchstone sounds, often with levity, the music understates itself to make lang's voice the star of the show. The subject matter is utterly consistent; The music has the characters of country and pop but isn't quite either. It seems delicious to slow dance to.

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.

It was fine. Country isn't my style but this wasn't off putting, it was whelming. I liked the bluesier parts best. Favourite Track: Busy Being Blue

I really only knew her version of Hallelujah, which is beautiful but had never listened to anything else by her. She does have a great voice. This album was a tad too country for me personally. Didn't dislike it, am pretty neutral to it. Wouldn't ask to change the station if it was on in the car. Favourite song: Sugar moon, black coffee

Powerful vocals, but I am generally bored by the song arrangements. Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes and Black Coffee are best. I don't think any are making it into rotation for me.

6/10

Nice mix of country and jazzy sounds. Excellent voice. Could listen again

Belle voix, belle musique et bien realise. Pour une premier album c’est tres bon et ca s’ecoute bine. 3.75

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

Somehow, I’ve managed to go all these years without ever listening to K.D. Lang. That’s unfortunate because this is was a pleasant listen. Lang’s vocal style is smooth as silk, languid and dreamy and quite engaging. It’s hard not to like her. Lang's style is very evocative of Patsy Cline, especially when she hits that little yodel. She really channels Patsy in “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So.” Musically the album definitely has a retro vibe, like honky tonk music of the early 60s, with a torchy undertone. Really lovely. Fave Songs: Western Stars, I Wish I Didn’t Love You So, Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes, I’m Down to My Last Cigarette

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.

Country is not my style, frankly, but this one was very good.

Fabulous. Just fabulous. One reason for doing this is to 'discover' prominent artists who despite attaining global prominence have somehow stayed off my radar. I'm now a fully certified kd fan. Thank you

This feels like Country being country. 2.5, but will bump because 'Busy Being Blue' has a 'Shine on you crazy Diamond' feeling going on and I dig it

Really really liked this, way more than I expected to

Wasn't sure about this originally. First few songs a bit slow and waiting for it to pick up. I've since listened about 5 time so feel 4 stars warranted. Picked up after tears don't care who cried them

I thought "oh, nice voice, but in the 50s music wasn't really to my taste". Then I saw it was made in 1988! What the fuck? How is it on this list? As a significant throwback karaoke album? Nope.

i'd forgotten how sweet and how powerful her voice is. this was a joy to hear, even thought i don't really love the music - it was a definite throwback to a time that's pretty much lost, when country music could be lonely and soulful, and not just cheap beer and cheap flags.

A little too much western vibes. Fine but would rush to put on again.

Swings from fun and pokey to smoky and romantic. Pair with a date at home. 4/5

Country isn’t a genre I would seek out but I enjoyed listening to this 3*

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.

Decent, kind of boring. For the most part this feels like it could be a Hank Williams Sr cover album. Black Coffee is amazing.

great music for when I’m a sad dyke but want to be country about it. This album definitely dips into being cheesy and maudlin at times, but Lang’s vocal performance is so fantastic that she sells it well enough. weirdly, this album felt a lot longer than 35 minutes. 7/10

5/10. Pretty decent, but a little boring. Might have been more enjoyable if I paid more attention, or it might have just dragged on longer.

Just boring country. Her voice is decent though. 5/10

Too folk-ish to my taste, so no deep comments today :)

Smooth and easy listening.

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.

Surprisingly pleasant.

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

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: (Waltz me), Don't let the stars get in your eyes, Tears don't care who cries them

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

Listening again

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.

Sounds great, but not for me

Not my cup of tea

Debut Album. Reminded me of Patsy Cline. Great Voice. Slow country.

My life has been rather stressful recently, I needed this, lovely listen.

meh

very fun very groovy

Dreadful. Hated it. Obvious lyrics, annoying voice. Ugh.

Quality songwriting and performance

Decent listen, a throwback album to country/western music that I generally like. k.d. has a great voice, and it's nice for easing into the morning. I'm not entirely sure why it's on this list, though. It's a great showcase for her talents, but it doesn't seem particularly ground-breaking, and I'd go to other artists (e.g., Patsy Cline) for better seminal work in the genre.

Relajante

Loved it!

Awesome

R

Did not expect this to be country.

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.

yeah you know what this was pretty good

I have an irrational hatred for country music; I listened to Jason Aldean once and never recovered.

Great voice- pipes of an old handsaw. Struggled to actually find the album online to listen to properly, though.

Couldn't locate but cuaght a few songs

Interesting mix of country and rock elements, easy listening

Great vocal performance. The album dives into elements of country and contemporary jazz, but never seems to deliver something unique and original in and of itself. Great album for delivering Lang’s voice to the world, but not an album deserving of this list considering the many jazz and country works that precede it.

+1 for Alberta

Music was enjoyable. K.D. Lang has a nice smooth voice, and I'd listen to her again. Not really my style, but was nice background music.

I like this better than Ingenue, but still not the biggest fan of the schmaltzy, lounge singer feel. No doubt she has a great voice. 3 stars.

It’s excellent. Deserved of many many repeat listens.

Not at all what I expected. I don't really know how to weigh the good and bad of a slowjam honky tonk album, but here we are.

sorta reminded me of norah jones with the piano and some vocals. damm k.d you can sing. I like how it barely sounds like country. swoonyy. 3.5

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

It has its qualities, but I didn't like the country themes. I may try other album. 7

Liked this more than I thought I would. Would listen to again.

Nice easy listening country

Voice is beautiful. First half of the album was way better than the second.

I thought I knew who k.d. lang was, but I did not. Very cool, very country/western.

My only reference point for KD Lang was that my friend's lesbian mom listened to her. I had no idea what she sounded like, but she is far more soulful than I imagined.

This album confirms I'm not a huge kd lang fan, which is something I always suspected.

Very old school country.

This type of country is squarely my shit. Not every song is perfect but what a lovely listen.

Not really a traditional country album but not bad. She has a good voice and the album is decent.

No.

gillade hennes röst va. men i övrigt rätt tradig musik

Nah

Kd Lang :(

What happened to her?

I like this more than "Ingenue". It's more of a cut-and-dry country record, with a chorus of all-stars at the end, and some interesting choices of instruments (don't remember much saxophone on other country records). Still not really for me, but I can kind of see the reverence around it. 3.5 stars. Favorite tracks: "Black Coffee", "Down to My Last Cigarette"

Fun album. Busy Being Blue was a really great tune.

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!

Relaxing!