The title of her seventh album isn’t just a location; it’s a state of mind. “I grew up in a small town 100 miles from Memphis, and that informed not only my musical taste, but how I look at life,” she says. “The drive to Memphis is all farmland, and everyone is community-oriented, God-fearing people, connected to the earth. The music that came out of that part of the world is a part of who I am, and it’s the biggest inspiration for what I do and why I do it.”

The results evoke a time when soul and passion filled the radio waves, when the sweat and joy of a recording session could be captured forever on wax. Sometimes the musical references—Al Green, Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder—are made apparent, but the album’s eleven songs are characterized more by capturing a classic spirit than by imitating any specific style.

The songs on 100 Miles From Memphis display impressive range, in feeling and performance. First single “Summer Day” is a delightfully breezy slice of glory-days AM radio pop. “I wanted to experiment with writing something simple and positive,” says Crow. “The feeling of a great, solid love—not just a new love, but something everlasting.”

We are super excited to be giving away a signed acoustic guitar from Sheryl.  Enter here!

The album is also available on iTunes as of yesterday.  So, if you don’t win, you can always grab it for only $6.99.

Just leave a comment below letting us know which song on the album is your fave and why.  Ours would have to be “Like a Prayer.”  Epic.  We can’t really figure out why it reigns supreme though, so looks like we can’t win our own contest!

1. 1.  Express Yourself (feat.  Jonathan Groff)
2. 2.  Borderline/Open Your Heart
3. 3.  Vogue
4. 4.  Like a Virgin (feat. Jonathan Groff)
5. 5.  4 Minutes
6. 6.  What It Feels Like for a Girl
7. 7.  Like a Prayer (feat. Jonathan Groff)
8. 8.  Burning Up (feat. Jonathan Groff)

Ft. Worth, Texas rockers Green River Ordinance are getting back out on the road in support of their debut album, Out of My Hands, and new single “On Your Own.”  To celebrate the tour and success of their album, we are teaming up with the band to give away a Nintendo Wii and new Super Mario Bros. game!

A testament to the power of their live show, Green River Ordinance broke the record for most CDs sold at The Nokia Theater in NYC. They’ve toured with the likes of Counting Crows, Gavin DeGraw, Train, David Cook, Third Eye Blind, Collective Soul, and more. As their music cracks the Top 20 Hot Adult Rock chart, Billboard magazine claims “Green River Ordinance establishes itself as a pop-rock act to keep an eye on in 2010.”

What are you waiting for?  Enter the contest here!

Smoke & Mirrors is available now in stores and online in both a standard and a deluxe edition, which features a bonus disc with additional material.  After appearing on the Tonight Show during Conan O’Brien’s final days as host, Lifehouse will return to the Tonight Show on Thursday, March 4th to help kick off Jay Leno’s first week back.  The band will also begin a nationwide tour with Daughtry and Cavo in Baltimore, MD on March 18th. Visit LifehouseMusic.com for tour dates and details, as well as additional updates from the band.

Also, their video for “Halfway Gone” is available for FREE download on iTunes this week!

We are super excited to be giving away a SIGNED CD and a “Smoke & Mirrors” poster to celebrate the release.  Enter for your chance to win by leaving a comment below telling us why YOU love Lifehouse and be sure to follow PopAwesome on Twitter here to be the first to find out about more cool contests!

“Naturally” appears on Selena Gomez & The Scene’s album Kiss & Tell which is available on iTunes now.