But there are other themes on this album that interrupt the smooth flow. "Tuesday Morning," dedicated to Mark Bingham, a gay man who died heroically during 9/11, is one such example. It’s a good song with shades of Bruce Springsteen-style patriotism, but seems an unusual and slightly jarring addition to what has been deemed by Etheridge herself as an “up album."

"Giant" is another misplaced, generic underdog-makes-good anthem that doesn’t fit the rest of the tone of the album (although it is an election year, so maybe this will be used in a Rock the Vote spot, because it is pretty rockin').

While these songs have their good points, they seem a little out of place and occasionally more like filler. I would have preferred more of a commen theme (like new love) to tie the tracks together and spin a musical story, like we've seen in other recent high-concept albums like Outkast’s Speakerboxx/The Love Below and mashups from 2 Many DJ’s and Dangermouse.

The songs on this album that really attracted my attention and are the most characteristic of Melissa Etheridge’s classic rock style (similar to the raucous, ass-kicking guitar and super-hot lyrics of "I’m The Only One" and "Come To My Window") are "Breathe" and "If You Want To." There is a bittersweet longing to "Breathe," which when combined with her gut-wrenching and raw vocal style, provokes an immediate emotional response. By contrast, the rhythm on "If You Want To" is like skipping or jumping, then stopping to gather your breath--appropriate since the song is about those first furtive gestures when asking a girl out, full of both bravado and vulnerability.

The only track I didn’t like was "Secret Agent." In spite of hot and heavy basslines and cool guitar reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughn, I couldn’t get past the juvenile rhyming lyrics. This song comes across as forced, immature and pandering to her lesbian fans with obvious innuendo ("All the boys want to know if she’s got something to hide/ all the girls are relieved she’s working for the other side").

Nonetheless, even with a few soft spots, Lucky is a solid offering by Melissa Etheridge that both her fans and her wife will undoubtedly enjoy.

Melissa Etheridge is currently on tour. For more information, check out melissaetheridge.com or gett Lucky now!