From the moment
Denim & Diamonds kicks off with the fuzz-tone swagger of "First High," it's 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
Lane's 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 she'll 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
Lane's 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 -- there's no other place the stomping "Black Widow" would sound better -- makes
Denim & Diamonds a remarkable record. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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