Thanks to a career spanning more than 25 years, propelled by unforgettable tracks such as Man! I Feel Like A Woman and That Don’t Impress Me Much, Shania Twain has earned the title of queen of country-pop. Fresh from adding some contemporary gloss to that legacy by supporting Harry Styles, on ‘Little Miss Twain’ she returns to her country roots. It’s perhaps her most personal release to date, but it’s also short on the ‘wow’ factor we might expect at this point.

In the plus column, opener Stranger Things is a countrified banger with an irresistible chorus, while Dirty Rosie blends its country sound with addictive hits of bluegrass and soul. Here Twain shares fond experiences of driving her first truck in her home city in a track that will go down a storm in a live setting. 

Scary Little Thing is a catchy country-pop anthem expressing Twain’s vulnerability about falling in love again, accompanied by a nice brass instrumental. “Got a crazy thing between us / And I don't wanna feel this / Scary little thing called love,” she confidently sings. 

There are a few unfortunate misses, though. Little Miss Twain, a duet with country legend Tanya Tucker, has the bones of a hit yet it doesn’t quite deliver.

Problematic, too, is a little uninspired in comparison to earlier tracks, missing Twain’s usual songwriting flair and vocal pep. Northern Town is also predictable and repetitive and by the time closer Rockstars hits there is a pang of disappointment at so much initial promise wasted.