Evolution (Sheryl Crow album)

Crow announced the album on November 3, 2023, which came as a surprise since she had previously stated her intentions to not release another album following 2019's Threads.^[2] The news arrived just ahead of her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that same day.^[3] Crow explained that music and lyrics on the album stem from "sitting in the quiet and writing from a deep soul place".^[4] The creation process started by Crow recording a couple of demos which she then sent to producer Mike Elizondo. Songs "just kept flowing" out of her and it would soon be obvious that "this was going to be an album".^[5] Following the release of Threads four years prior, she announced to never make another record because had thought there would be "no point to it". However, in creating Evolution, she found that the music comes from her soul. Crow hopes "whoever hears this record can feel that".^[6]

In the United States, Evolution peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Album Sales Chart.

In the United Kingdom, the album peaked at number 90 on the UK Official Albums Chart, and number 6 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.^[7]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	73/100[8]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Loudersound	[9]
i	[10]
AllMusic	[11]
Glide Magazine	Positive[12]
Riff Magazine	[13]
Clash	[14]
Rolling Stone	[15]
Pitchfork	[16]

Evolution received generally positive reviews from music critics. Giving the album an 8/10, Emma Harrison of Clash Magazine calls Evolution a "soul-searching and liberating surprise return from the Grammy-award winner."^[14] Vera Maksymiuk of Riff Magazine says the album "is at its core authentically Sheryl Crow, with an elevated artistic vision and concept to match."^[13] Jeremy Lukens of Glide Magazine, conceding that "Crow's artistic peak was from 1992-2002," claims that Evolution's "blending of new territory with Crow's signature sound has enough music to satisfy the fans."^[12]

Multiple reviewers, however, criticized the album for sounding too familiar. Pat Carty of Louder Sound, who rated the album 3 stars out of 5, says the album "becomes a bit by-numbers" following the opening four songs.^[9] Ed Power of i says the album is "too bland to leave an impression" and that "Music has moved on in the last 30 years - but Crow is still in the same disposable groove."^[10] Claire Shaffer of Pitchfork rated the album a 6/10 and says that Crow's "new album sometimes makes her singular appeal feel generic."^[16]

Note

• The standard edition omits "Digging in the Dirt".