Backwoods Barbie
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Free Music Notes for Backwoods Barbie
Free Music Review: Dolly's BACK
Hit: 5 Stars
The album Backwoods Barbie has some incredible lyrics and melodies. As always, Dolly never tries act cool -instead she wins our hearts by opening her own -it's incredible the way she uses country music to tell a story about our everyday life. Dolly is quite frank - and she masters irony like nobody else. Enjoy this album. Free Music Review: Excellent CD!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of Dolly's best CD's and a must have for any Dolly fan. Every song is great and I look forward to seeing her in concert later this month. The Backwoods Barbie single seems perfect for the Nine to Five musical. Free Music Review: Barbie as Daisy Duke : Parton's Country Return
Hit: 3 Stars
There are more than a couple of great things about this album. First, its perhaps Dolly's most defiant record in ages, and second, she's never sounded this raw and energetic in almost a decade. Sure, I enjoyed her bluegrass record as much as anybody else, but its great to see her back recording some good old fashioned Southern country music - complete with Shania Twain-ish rock flourishes. In Dolly's case this actually works, and the whole project just seems like a whole lot of fun.
Also, her attitude remains as cheerful and optimistic as ever. The first song, "Better Get to Livin'" is like a crash course in Buddhism (it really is). Its more of an anthem on how we should all, as humanity, believe a little more in forgiveness and learn to `live' better, and in the process heal ourselves. I can imagine just how infantile and schmaltzy this would have sounded in someone else's hands, but Dolly just makes this soar.
"Made of Stone" reminds me so much of those old Loretta Lynn "Why you done me wrong" kinds of songs, but Dolly's poignant vocal (complete with quivering lower lip) brings it a life that I never quite expected out of such a straightforward lyric. Its great that Dolly is back to storytelling. Very few country songs today actually tell a story (surprisingly enough, the one person who is still carrying on this tradition amongst the younger singers is Taylor Swift), and this record really brings that to the table.
The only misstep here, in my opinion, is "Drives me Crazy", the much talked about cover of the Fine Young Cannibals hit single from 1988. The faux-rock edge to the song will bring a smile to your face, but I felt it was awfully misplaced within the context of this album. Who knows why Dolly chose to cover this, but it just did not work for me. And I'm normally a fan of even Dolly's more cheesy experiments on record, and I still couldn't find much to appreciate on this cover.
"Jesus and Gravity" aims for a gospel-chorus lift towards the middle of the song, but it came off as extremely forced and irrelevant. This is a good enough song, mind you, but something about it just doesn't come together. Also, the plainly obvious analogy of the chorus is enough to turn you off. However, all is redeemed when you hear the next track "Only Dreamin'". This is the kind of song that makes you realize what an incredible vocalist Parton actually is. For years, shes had songs that have called for a vocal skill way beyond her perceived ability, but she's nailed it time and time again. On this song, she mates an Irish/Celtic melody and vocal delivery to a very country-sounding lyric. This is a marriage I never saw coming, and it just works.
"The Tracks of my Tears" is another fine song that would sound at home in any country bar in the Southern United States - its got that warm, earthy air to it. "Cologne" is another one of Dolly's famous `story' songs, and again, it's a fine piece of work. The end of the album lags a little, in my opinion. Some of the song choices seem a little too cutesy for Dolly (I can't for the life of me imagine her singing "I Will Forever hate roses" considering both her age and her life experiences, but maybe its meant to be ironic?), and the album closer, "Somebody's Everything" is a tad too bland and safe to work.
All in all, "Backwoods Barbie" is memorable for its' killer title track and some great vocal work on the first six tracks or so. However, far too many songs here have lyrics that seem they were put together by an adolescent, and a couple of them, especially the last few songs seemed to veer into LeAnn Rimes territory (and not in a good way). So, yes, this is not a `classic' Dolly album by any means, but it's a miracle that we still have in our midst recording and releasing music.
If you are new to Dolly Parton and wish to explore her music in depth, I must direct you to her 1976 album "All I Can Do". This is now available on CD alongwith her 1977 album "New Harvest". "All I Can Do" is the greatest Dolly album, in my opinion, as it runs from start to finish the way a proper country album should - and she hasn't quite made anything great enough to rival that record. Trust me, get a copy of that CD, as its one of those essential albums that even most hardcore country fans don't know about. Once you listen to the song "Shattered Image" from "All I Can Do", you'll probably rush out to buy everything by her. The woman is a musical genius.
Three Stars for "Backwoods Barbie". Dolly still sounds great, but I can't wait for her to record another bluegrass album or do a stripped down acoustic country album. Now that would be an event to cheer for.
Free Music Review: Somebody's Everything
Hit: 4 Stars
My favorite track on this album is Somebody's Everything. It appears to be the unsung hero of the cd, I recommend that everyone give it a good listen. The lyrics are poignant and it can speak to all ages with Dolly's classic tried and true country style. Shinola has real bite and the depth and range of Dolly's styles are evident in its contrast to Cologne. Not exactly a fan of the pop and cheesy nature of Drives Me Crazy and I felt that The Tracks of my Tears was just a filler for the album. Overall a great album for the tried and true Dolly Parton. Looking forward to seeing her on Idol and what kind of guidance she will give these young aspiring singers. Hope some of her new material will be featured on the show.Free Music Review: Love it
Hit: 5 Stars
I hope radio plays it...... better yet, radio----you better get to playin'.
Love Cologne, Jesus & gravity, Shinola, Tracks of My Tears, Made of Stone... heck I love it all.