Family

LeAnn Rimes comes to terms with her past and defines herself in the present on 2007’s <i>Family</i>. For the first time, the former country singing prodigy asserts herself as a songwriter, sharing co-writing credit on all of the tracks here. Those who have followed her personal travails in the media will hear echoes of her own story in “What I Can Not Change” and the title tune. “Doesn’t Everybody” (paring her with smoky-voiced Marc Broussard) and “Pretty Things” (a heart-tugging acoustic-oriented number) exalt the value of love over glitter and glamour. Rimes is less successful at playing the down-home Everywoman in “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine” — her powerhouse vocals don’t work as well on this Gretchen Wilson-style tune. She acquits herself much better on the swampy “Nothin’ Better To Do” and the yearning “I Want You With Me,” songs that display the bite and the tenderness inherent in her voice. Duets with Jon Bon Jovi (“Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore”) and Reba McEntire (“When You Love Someone Like That”) are satisfying show-pieces. The precocious passion and self-control LeAnn showed as a teenager are still evident — but <i>Family</i> finds her also capable of grown-up honesty and insight.