Rating:
Genre:
Country
Release Date: 02/26/2008
It's been three years since
Dolly Parton released a new album, and nearly two decades since she put out anything close to a mainstream
country offering, so
Backwoods Barbie ought to get some serious media attention, although it remains to be seen whether the now 62-year-old
Parton will get much play on the new country stations. The first single from the album, the cloyingly wise
"Better Get to Livin'," is certainly catchy enough, but the fact remains that
Parton's voice isn't quite what it used to be and she wasn't exactly
Patsy Cline in the first place. What she is, and has been all these years, is a true iconic presence in
country music, a shrewd marketer, an astute businesswoman (
Backwoods Barbie appears from her own
Dolly Records), and a frequently brilliant if understated songwriter (nine of the 12 tracks here are
Parton originals). Unlike her last couple of albums, which were
bluegrass-based, she isn't trying to reinvent herself here, but works in her usual
pop and
country hybrid style (even tenderly covering
Smokey Robinson's
"The Tracks of My Tears"), not trying too hard to be contemporary, although the production touches are there (the album was co-produced by
Parton and her bandleader, guitarist
Kent Wells), certainly, and her version of
Betsy Ulmer and
Craig Wiseman's
"Jesus & Gravity," even more than
"Better Get to Livin'," could well find itself in regular rotation on new country radio stations, at least in a fair and equitable world. Other highlights here include the title song, which shows
Parton still in tune with her public image (she really always has been, of course), and the beautiful and delicate original
"Only Dreamin'," which shows that, beneath all the big wigs and glamour,
Parton is still a fine songwriter with an uncommon sense of grace, economy, and wisdom.
Backwoods Barbie might not break the bank out there, and it would take a good deal of marketing and luck for any of these tracks to hit the top of the new country charts, but it shows that
Parton can still deliver the package in fine style and only the fools among us would ever count her down and out, no matter how many
bluegrass albums she does.
~Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
Average Review:
Number of reviews: 4
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J. Cann
from Pennsylvania
AWESOME CD!
Dolly just keeps getting better and better! The new Backwoods Barbie cd is a must have. I love the new songs in addition to the remakes of a couple older pop songs. Should we expect anything less from the "Queen of Country???" LOVE IT!
scottieLOVESdolly
from Greenville, SC
Dolly is AWESOME in Backwoods Barbie!!!
Dolly is better than ever!!! A solid masterpiece!!! Better Get To Livin' and buying this cd!!! You will not regret it!!!
A reviewer
from OHIO
DOLLYS BEST WORK IN YEARS!
"Backwoods Barbie" is dollys best work in years! dolly sees herself returning to more of the mainstream country music scene! the new single "jesus and gravity" is one of the best singles i have ever heard! dollys brings new life into the remakes "tracks of my tears" and "drive me crazy"- every single song on this cd is great! dollys vocals are strong and pure! "only dreamin" is one of dollys best vocal songs she has ever recorded! this cd should be in everybodys home/car!
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