Denim & Diamonds＜Seaglass Vinyl＞

From the moment Denim & Diamonds kicks off with the fuzz-tone swagger of "First High," its clear that something is different this time around for Nikki Lane: her Americana has grown tougher and heavier, swinging to a big backbeat. The difference can be chalked up to Lanes choice to hire Josh Homme as producer. He, in turn, brought in a number of his Queens of the Stone Age bandmates to give Denim & Diamonds a genuine earthy kick not only on the rockers -- of which there are quite a few -- but also on such searching ballads as "Good Enough." There, Lane wonders if shell be good enough for a lover, one of the many moments of doubt and self-recrimination that float through Denim & Diamonds, questioning that reflects how she considered leaving music behind after the release of Highway Queen in 2017. If the songs were born in uncertainty, as a record Denim & Diamonds comes from a place of confidence. Some of that is due to the QOTSA crew lending muscle and texture to the tunes, but this is also unquestionably Lanes album; her emotions are laid bare, and she pulls the listener into her feelings through her powerful, yearning voice. The combination of open heart and open road -- theres no other place the stomping "Black Widow" would sound better -- makes Denim & Diamonds a remarkable record. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine