The lyrics carrying the feelings of carefree summer days in “Soak Up The Sun” make for a nearly irresistible opening track. Sheryl Crow spreads her carefree vibes by singing, “I’m gonna soak up the sun / Gonna tell everyone / To lighten up (I’m gonna tell ‘em that) / I’ve got no one to blame / For every time I feel lame / I’m looking up.”

The lyrical growth ends there, though, as the next track shows Crow falling in love with another guy to shake her confidence and break her heart yet again. “You’re An Original” offers the love struck perfection that only a desperate girl sees in a not-so perfect guy. Then, as the boy’s affection dims for the girl, she ends up begging him to “C’mon, c’mon c’mon, break my heart again, for old time’s sake” in the track for which the album is named. A similar pattern progresses throughout the rest of the thirteen songs. The listener survives the break-up, the make-up, the re-building process, and any other bits and pieces of emotions left in the aftermath.

Throughout the record, Sheryl Crow enlists many famous women to help her sing the blues with a happy tone. Stevie Nicks gives her unique voice to “C’mon, C’mon” as well as “Diamond Road,” and Sheryl even convinced her good friend Gwyneth Paltrow to sing backup on “It’s Only Love.” Emmylou Harris also makes an appearance, lending her vocal sounds to “Weather Channel.”

Though despite all the attractions, something seems to be missing from the mix. It becomes obvious after the first complete listen that, while some people may think that Crow has deserted her trademark sounds and storylines, all she’s really done is dressed them up. And while the collaborations are all welcomed, they don’t compensate for Crow’s lack of real growth.