Jamie O’Neal broke big on her first single, “There Is No Arizona,” in 2001. Now, she resurfaces with a new baby, new Capitol deal and newfound maturity as a songwriter. This is an adventurous, risk-taking set, with O’Neal co-writing most of the best songs. “Trying to Find Atlantis” is a shimmering, lyrically clever cut that showcases her power as a belter. She also cuts loose, backed by strings and piano, on the ballads “When Did You Know” and the title cut. The thumpin’ midtempo “On My Way to You” and rollicking “I Love My Life” showcase her versatility, though lesser pieces like the synth-laden “Naive” try a little too hard to sound ultra-contemporary. On the plus side, O’Neal has soul for days on the sultry “Devil on the Left,” written with Lisa Drew and Rivers Rutherford (who also produced the song). This, not current trends, should be the blueprint for O’Neal’s future direction.—RW
