Platinum

The title of Platinum refers to Miranda Lambert’s hair; it's not a greatest-hits collection. It's an ambitious new album from one of modern country music’s most deserving artists. “Priscilla” explains that “it’s a difficult thing being queen of the king,” but anyone paying attention has surely noted that in the Lambert-Blake Shelton marriage it’s Lambert who’s the leading star, as she's an in-demand songwriter and a member of the much-loved Pistol Annies as well as a viable solo performer. Maybe insecurity runs deep. “What doesn’t kill you only make you blonder” on the title track isn’t exactly a power-grabbing anthem, and Lambert isn’t afraid of sharing the spotlight with others. “Smokin’ and Drinkin’,” her duet with Little Big Town, clearly doesn’t need the Vocoder hiding her worthy voice. But her cover of Tom T. Hall’s “All That’s Left” with The Time Jumpers is more her old-school country speed. Luckily, “Old Sh!t” leans toward vintage country harmonies. “Holding On to You” moves closer to the border between country and country-rock, and “Hard Staying Sober” centers on pedal steel and pretty harmonies.