Backwoods Barbie
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Free Music Notes for Backwoods Barbie
Free Music Review: Not Backwoods At All
Hit: 4 Stars
Dolly delivers her most recent commercial cross over album in dazzling form. Whether its her countrified covers of sure fire hit ' Drives Me Crazy' (Fine Young Cannibals) or her own self penned 'Gotta Get to Livin" Dolly proves she is creatively, artistically and comercially as viable as she ever was. My personal favourite is "Jesus & Gravity" a longing reflection of everyones reality as a personal ode to struggle and how we get through it. This album sits comfortably next to classics like 'Straight Talk' and 'Burlap & Satin'.Free Music Review: A solid effort
Hit: 4 Stars
I've been a fan of Dolly Parton all my life. As I was preparing to write this review, it dawned on me that I own every album she's released (excluding some compilations) in the past 25 years. "Backwoods Barbie" is being heralded in all the press releases as her first mainstream effort in 17 years. It is not. If you consider her 1996 ("Treasures") and 1998 ("Hungry Again") releases to be specialty projects, that would mean her last mainstream effort was 1995's "Something Special", her last studio album for Columbia Records.
Given the vast body of Dolly's work over her 44- (and counting)year career, the mark for "Backwoods Barbie" was set very high indeed. It surpasses the mark in some respects, but it does not rank up there with Dolly's very best work ("White Limozeen", "Eagle When She Flies", "Hungry Again" and the stunning three bluegrass albums she did for Sugar Hill). Still, it is far better than most of what can be heard on country radio today.
The lead single "Better Get To Livin'" is a catchy number that I've been playing a lot ever since I downloaded the digital single from iTunes a few months ago. The title track is vintage Dolly. Other standouts are "Only Dreamin'", "The Lonesomes", and "I Will Forever Hate Roses." There are also two cover songs on the album, "Drives Me Crazy" and "Tracks of My Tears." The former I'd have to classify as a misstep; it's just not the right kind of song for Dolly and it makes it seem like she's trying too hard to be contemporary. I like "Tracks of My Tears" better, but it seems out of place with the rest of the album. Still, I've been humming it throughout the day in spite of myself.
Aside from the content itself, one of the things that makes this album very interesting is the way it's being marketed. "Backwoods Barbie" is the first release on the newly-launched Dolly Records. Working outside the major-label system will allow Dolly to have more creative control and free-rein to market her music as she pleases. Hopefully Dolly Records will be successful and become a model for other veteran artists who either can no longer get signed to major record labels, or find that the majors aren't promoting their work properly.
All in all, this is a good, solid album that knocks the socks off most of the other projects being churned out by Nashville these days. But a performer who has been in the business as long as Dolly has, eventually has to compete against her own past achievements. This album's biggest flaw is that at times Dolly seems to be trying too hard to get back on country radio, something that is unlikely to happen given radio programmers' current obsession with more youthful artists. That's unfortunate, but at the end of the day, there's really nothing Dolly can do about it, as radio will not play her new music no matter how good it is. She needs to realize and accept this and stop trying to produce music that is "radio friendly". At this stage of her career, she doesn't need radio to sell her records. She should be concentrating on doing what she does best -- making great music -- and not trying to be commercial. A star of her stature has got the fan base, the name recognition, and her own record label to promote her music. Find ways to work around the obstacles that radio has thrown in your path, Dolly, and we the fans will find you.
In conclusion, I'd prefer Dolly's next project to be a "White Limozeen" or a "Hungry Again". But until then, "Backwoods Barbie" will stop the gap quite nicely.
Free Music Review: Dolly shines again
Hit: 5 Stars
I like this album a lot... Dolly never ceases to write good music. As an artist, I like to humm... along with music, and Backwoods Barbie is good for that and putting a smile to your face...
The top singers of the day seem to sing more of the same and get lots of the radio time. When will the radio put on what ALL THE PEOPLE want? Sounds a little like what they do in Washington, too. Maybe there's a connection?
I am so glad she produced this album, now she can produce what she does best: write and sing....
Thanks Dolly.
Free Music Review: Good Golly Miss Dolly!
Hit: 5 Stars
Wow! Ms. Parton has done it again i:e, she has created another fantastic record. My favorite song would have to be her autobiographical , title track "Backwoods Barbie". It reminds me of her other song "Coat of many Colors". It also has wonderful tune and pretty lyrics. I also like the pictures in the liner notes. Free Music Review: 'Jesus&Gravity' is THE song
Hit: 5 Stars
Many knowledgeable, die-hard fans who know a lot more about Parton's career than i do are praising this cd. As someone who's always liked her but hasn't purchased her releases regularly, i just want to throw in my 2 cents and say that 'Jesus&Gravity' is probably the best new song i've heard in years and it sounds like a 'classic in the making' to me.
A great song is a great song....and what so many of our treasured 'evergreen' artists (like Dolly, Stevie Nicks, Streisand, Linda R. and on and on) have been lacking for many years is finding a GREAT new song that can reach millions and simply not only appeal to their loyal fan base. 'Jesus&Gravity' just has the power to be THE song that could finally get Dolly radio airplay that she deserves, so i hope she includes it in her set during her upcoming tour and gets promo cds of it to radio stations, because i think it's her best shot in decades at having a smash.
The message of 'Jesus&Gravity' is great; the song builds and builds, and Dolly's voice soars in ways i haven't heard since 'It's All Wrong But Its All Right' or 'Light of a Clear Blue Morning'-- this is powerful singing and not 'breathy-cutesy-bouncy' which i understand is some of her charm, but when a classic singer's pipes get a great workout in the best showcase for her talents i've heard in years, this is the song to not let get away. I don't like the first track on the cd at all which already has a video, and i wish her well with it, but it's just not a great song (in my opinion).
'Jesus&Gravity' is mature, yet has an appeal that could reach all ages, it's inspirational, and the song to bring her back to radio. It has the makings of 'song of the year' and 'best female vocal performance' so i hope she doesn't let it get away. It makes me want to go back and explore her catalog. Bravo, Dolly :)