Chely Wright: Never Love You Enough : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Since winning the Academy of Country Music's Top New Female Vocalist trophy in 1994, Chely Wright's star has ascended steadily, culminating in her breakthrough album, Single White Female. With its follow-up, Never Love You Enough, Wright seems poised to move to the next level, both commercially and artistically. Yes, the title track, with guitar-heavy production and love-you-forever lyrics, veers dangerously close to crossover territory -- but the rest of the material, much of which Wright either wrote or co-wrote, keeps her country cred in good standing. In mature, finely detailed songs like "One Night in Las Vegas" and "The Long Run," Wright examines unmistakably adult relationships, and all the doubts, dilemmas and disappointments that go along with them. When she stretches sonically, as in the trip-hop/bluegrass "Jezebel" or the oddly atmospheric "Deep Down Low," the themes are pure country -- as in cheatin' men and misery. If Wright isn't a member of country's A-list now, Never Love You Enough offers a dozen compelling reasons why she should be.

ANDREA DRESDALE
(September 24, 2001)