Loretta Lynn's New Album
While growing up in Colorado I listened to the best music, all courtesy of my mom. I heard Heart, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Bob Dylan and all the rest. Imagine a fierce 70's compilation and you'll get the idea. But my mom also imparted a love of old country music on me, her first-born son. I'm talking about Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline.
So after reading Matthew Henry's recommendation of Loretta Lynn's new album, Val Lear Rose, which was produced by Jack White of the White Stripes, I had to get it. Read some of these reviews:
The artistic marriage of producer Jack White of the White Stripes and country icon Loretta Lynn might seem a stretch. But the end result, "Van Lear Rose," proves the pairing incredibly inspired. More mountain soul than country gold, Lynn gives it hell from start to finish. She belts with authority on the proud title cut and gets riled up on the raucous "Mrs. Leroy Brown." White may be a rocker, but he is a rocker who understands that country music is about attitude (witness rough diamonds like "Women's Prison"). "Van Lear Rose" is a completely personal album; it teems with authenticity on "Story of My Life" and the spare, sad "Miss Being Mrs." and captures marital discord in "Trouble on the Line." Other highlights include the joyous "High on a Mountain Top" and such description-defying fare as "Little Red Shoes" and "Have Mercy." This time, the final product exceeds the hype.—RW
can i just say that Loretta Lynn's new album kicks total ass? produced and arranged by Jack White of the White Stripes (quite an odd pairing if you ask me), but for a sixty nine year old woman (he he, i said 69) she wipes the floor with shania, faith, reba...this processed country pop that's out there now. this album's all about cheatin' men, loose women, drinking, murder, one night stands, and plain old white trash. I LOVE IT! the whole album sounds as if it was recorded live in the back room of some kentucky dive. i highly reccommend it.
Loretta Lynn would probably still be waiting out her days, tending to her home, were it not for the White Stripes' Jack White. White lovingly produces Van Lear Rose, the comeback disc from the country music legend. He brings a backup band that can swing on a back porch and rock with conviction. It sounds exhilarating, enlivening these songs as much as a sterile studio would deaden them. Yet the coal miner's daughter is hardly being propped up. Her voice more than stands up to time and her persona - the backwoods Kentucky gal who will fight tenaciously to keep the trailer trash away from her husband - remains intact. The title cut is a gentle tribute to her father's courtship of her mother, and it segues directly into Portland, Oregon, a rocking duet with White about the wonders of a sloe gin fizz. The haunting Women's Prison and tribute to her late husband, Miss Being Mrs., are other highlights. About the only serious misstep is the self-conscious spoken-word song, Little Red Shoes. Kudos to Lynn and White for delivering the goods. Yet a nagging feeling is unavoidable at the end of this disc: How many other underappreciated music legends are languishing because a hot young star hasn't taken a personal interest in them?
Yeah, they're all right. Loretta kicks ass. Buy this album as soon as possible.
9:13:22 AM 
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