I Need You

Anyone who remembers the thrill of LeAnn Rimes's debut single, "Blue," the best song Patsy Cline never cut, can't help but be bummed by how country's little Lolita has squandered her talent. Since that initial burst of glory, Rimes has largely wasted her Ferrari of a voice on lame cover tunes, empty power ballads, and undistinguished light pop. Case in point: I Need You, which builds its foundation on three Diane Warren songs, two of which ("But I Do Love You," "Can't Fight the Moonlight") appeared on the Coyote Ugly soundtrack. Nothing moves past midtempo, but Rimes steps out of her usual comfort zone with the Wynonna-ish funk of "Love Must Be Telling Me Something" before moving on to "Written in the Stars," her duet with Elton John. Listeners who suffer through that deserve what they get--the two don't so much sing together as trade bloody uppercuts and right-crosses. For the most part, this collection positions itself as an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of pop styles, but you're hungry for something more substantial right away. Let's hope the future promises a big change in menu.