Daniel Lanois: Shine : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The opening two tracks on Daniel Lanois' first solo album in ten years are reminders of the producer's glorious past. Lanois harmonizes with sometime collaborator Emmylou Harris on the dense opener, "I Love You," which is followed by the gentle "Falling at Your Feet," a song written and sung with Bono. Otherwise, though, Lanois goes it alone on Shine: writing the songs, playing most of the instruments and, of course, producing. Unsurprisingly, Shine is a record meant to be heard on headphones, providing Lanois' signature warm and smudgy vintage sound. From the electronic ambience of "Matador" to the mellow "JJ Leaves LA," the layers of sound are constantly shifting about in a mesmerizing mix. But it's Shine's straightforward highlights -- the upbeat "Sometimes" and the folksy title track -- that prove that, although Lanois is still a limited singer, he is an able songwriter. Shine has more than Lanois' famous polish; it achieves a real quiet beauty.

RICHARD ABOWITZ
(From RS 921, May 1, 2003)