This one from the Miami . Not bad

SHANIA TWAIN "Up!" (Mercury) 2-{ stars

If the thought of following the most successful album in music history by a female artist and also becoming a first-time mother has Shania Twain unglued or thinking deep thoughts, that certainly isn't evident on her perky "Come on Over" sequel, "Up!"

Twain resolutely keeps her personal life out of her frothy material. At heart, "Up!," her fourth album, is a textbook example of setting the marketing plan into motion before a note of music is even contemplated in the studio.

There are two CDs packaged together here (for the price of one). The "Red" CD sports pop/rock mixes of the 19 tunes. The preferable "Green" CD offers country mixes of the same songs and surprisingly features Twain's most overtly country music to date. That's thanks to judicious use of fiddles, banjos and other stringed instruments that don't sound nearly as condescending as they did on "Come on Over."

There are even "Blue" mixes featuring a Middle Eastern, rhythmic flavor fans can download from Twain's website, ShaniaTwain.com. Reportedly, husband/producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange has alternate mixes numbering in the hundreds for various world territories. These two don't miss a trick.

Still, everything that made "Come on Over" such a crossover smash five years ago _ the instantly catchy hooks, the upbeat outlook _ is here in abundance on the genuinely superior "Up!"

Where most pop albums feature one or two keepers and a whole mess of filler, every song on "Up!," both the ballads and the foot-stompers, sounds like a hit single. Twain's singing has improved and her tendency toward cutesy, man-bashing lyrics has been wisely toned down.

Twain's ongoing case of the cutes extends primarily to her overuse of exclamation points in song titles. There are 10 scattered about, with "Waiter! Bring Me Water!" scoring a double.

This time, Twain's worth her weight in ! points.

_Howard Cohen

I just love this part

Still, everything that made "Come on Over" such a crossover smash five years ago _ the instantly catchy hooks, the upbeat outlook _ is here in abundance on the genuinely superior "Up!"

All in all, a pretty good review.

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Rick
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200 mixes? 300 mixes?

Oh, it just is so amazing! Shania fills her albums with such great songs! Everytime I buy an album by another artist, blah.. maybe 2 good songs..
But with Shania!! WOW!!!

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Signature on holiday.

Considering his negative jibe about Shania during his Dixie Chicks "Home" review* I guess we can take this review as an improvement in attitude and mebbe some recognition for how much work went into UP! and just how good it is.



*
http://www.shania-twain.org/mb/show...=&threadid=6095

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Indubitably Certifiably ShAnIaNuTs! since 1993!
The irresistible red hot belly button barin' mama and quintessential lean mean singin' machine has surprised and enraptured us and conquered our hearts, minds and souls repeatedly.