The come-from-nowhere success of Shania Twain's previous album, The Woman in Me, proved that the world was ready for a combination of traditional instruments, girl-power themes, and dance-pop dynamics. Whether Twain is a modern-day Dolly Parton or a country music Spice Girl is a matter of perspective; on Come on Over, she accentuates the sing-along choruses and simple dance rhythms while downplaying the country elements. As a pop move, it works wonderfully for Twain, earning her a valued spot on MTV, VH1, and pop radio. The emphasis is on fun rather than depth, of course, but no one can accuse her of being stingy: she and her producer/husband, slick-rock king Robert "Mutt" Lange (Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, AC/DC), load down the album with 16 songs, all of them quite radio-friendly. This U.S. issue of the "international version" pushes the record's many hit singles even further toward pop with a slate of remixes. --Michael McCall
