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Title: Big disappointment from a major talent
Review: Roseanne Cash long ago proved herself one of the finest singer-songwriters in any musical genre. Despite a couple of good cuts, however, "Rules of Travel" is little more than an echo of such stunning earlier albums as "King's Record Shop," "Interiors," and "The Wheel." John Leventhal's production may be too glossy at times, but it's often the only element that keeps you listening to the new songs at all. The numbers written by others are mostly formulaic, and Cash's own compositions lack the biting insights into the politics of relationships and making peace with one's past that have always sparked her best writing. The mild exceptions are the title track, which boasts a memorable chorus, and the lover's challenge "Closer Than I Appear." On the plus side, Cash is in fine voice -- maybe her finest ever. Let's hope that the next album finds her back in top writing form as well.
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