Terri Clark

With 14 years in the business and six studio albums under her belt, Canadian country singer Terri Clark's latest release, The Long Way Home, feels like a debut. On a mission to take ownership of her career, and most importantly her song craft, Clark shed her role as a major label performer and chose to go independent. She assumes full-creative control, with an even balance of commercial ambition and creative authenticity. Clark doesn't stray far from the song formula that made her previous albums successful, delivering exactly what fans expect. Opening track "Gypsy Boots" is a rocking country blues favourite at live performances and its acoustic version closes the album. Sandwiched in-between you'll find an even mix of gentle and perky radio-ready ballads replete with hook-driven base riffs and memorable refrains. Guest vocalists include Vince Gill and Johnny Reid. Although she hasn't reinvented herself or taken many risks with her songwriting, the record is unquestionably a step in the right direction. Terri Clark is no stranger to chart-topping hits or country music awards but her creative ownership of The Long Way Home will make any victory she garners from it taste that much sweeter.