DRM2

Hello readers. Sorry it's been so long, but I've been busy and there really wasn't much time for listening last week. I guess we all know about those times. Before I get into the reviews, I beg your indulgence while I go on a little tirade. You see, last night I watched the Country My Ass Awards and all I can say is Peeeyuuu!!! I hadn't listened to pop/country radio in awhile and so I thought I would catch up a little. I won't be tuning in again for awhile. It was pitiful. Faith, Martina, Leann, Lee Ann, Jo Dee and other evening-gowned ladies all tried to out-vocalize each other while warbling pop ballads..nothing country at all. George Strait, who used to record good music, is starting to become the Huey Lewis of country music, pandering to the teenyboppers that buy this drivel. Maybe for a follow up he'll record "A Spoonful of Sugar" from the Mary Poppins soundtrack. He even had the audacity, while accepting the vocal event award for "Murder on Music Row", to say he didn't know how serious the songwriter was, but he recorded the song as a joke. He damn sure does know how serious Larry Cordelle was, and George is now an example of what he was writing about. I can't wait until George gets old and grows a fat ass and bursts his Wranglers so maybe he will start writing real country songs again. The worst of all was Reba and her group of leather clad clown dancers. Hell, I saw this act IN VEGAS with Ann-Margret thirty years ago. Ann was better - at least she can dance. This was the most representative Nashvegas example that I've ever seen. The parade of male vocalists fared no better...all hat and no talent. Who writes these songs anyway, Poppin Fresh and the cookie cutters?

There were a few bright spots like Brad Paisley winning the Horizon award and The Dixie Chicks winning Entertainer of the Year and album of the year. They are a talented group of ladies that have paid their dues and earned their success. I hope Nashvegas allows them to continue recording their music their way. Maybe they'll record one of Charlie or Bruce's songs on their next album. That would be cool.

Also, Hall of Fame inductee, Charlie Pride sang a medley of his hits and guess what? They were the best songs I heard all night. I don't begrudge Shania, Tim, Garth, Faith etc their billions, I just don't like them calling it country. I wish Ed Burleson, Dale Watson and a lot of other deserving artists could earn that kind of money while maintaining the integrity of real country music. Thank Goodness for Texas and Americana artists for keeping the music alive (and well). After last night I am convinced more than ever that Nashville not only sucks...it swallows. And that segues into my review.

Loretta Lynn "Still Country"...and she is. This is her first new solo album in about a decade, and she proves that a lady can record a country album and not turn it into a screamfest. The CD was a cathartic effort for her following the recent death of her husband of forty plus years, Mooney Lynn. The first song "On My Own Again", written by Randy Scruggs, who is also the CD's producer, has Loretta singing about being suddenly alone after many years of togetherness. Her emotions are real and her voice is as good as ever. Next a fiddle plays, a guitar strums and a banjo plunks to start the old fashioned toe-tappin' gospel flavored song "God's Country" written by Mrs. Lynn about her beloved Kentucky Mountain homeland. "Table For Two" by Max Barnes and Vince Gill is a real country heartstring pulling ballad. (Table for two, party of one). "Working Girl", written by Scruggs and Matraca Berg, has an updated sound and could get some airplay. Matraca sings backup and the cut has her stamp all over it. That's not a bad thing...I like her.

Loretta started writing " I Can't Hear The Music" soon after Mooney died but couldn't finish it for crying. He lost his hearing shortly before his death and told her that he couldn't hear the music anymore. Her friends finished it and surprised her with it at the studio. Loretta's delivery is honest, sincere and her breaking voice is real. A nice tribute.

"Country In My Genes" comes along to lighten things up and does it ever succeed. This is the best song she has recorded in twenty years and if there is any justice left in country radio (ha ha), this should be a hit record. It's a great song ,written for her, and comes closer to her old sound than anything else on the album. Earl Scruggs (Randy's dad) even plays some great banjo on it. Who could ask for more? "Hold Her" has touching lyrics about a couple in love breaking up because he can't communicate his feelings. It's a tad schmaltzy but her vocals make it work. "Don't Open That Door" has the feel of the ballads Loretta and Tammy sang twenty-five years ago. A nice tune. Next up is "Somewhere Someone's Falling In Love" with a catchy rhythm and clever lyrics by John Prine. Closing out the release is "The Blues Ain't Working On Me". An upbeat number that has the old, tough Loretta we love singing about getting on with her life. I think she means it. This is a nice CD with a number of great musicians including Glen Duncan, John Hobbs, Lloyd Maines, Randy and Earl Scruggs, Stuart Duncan and Ron Reynolds among other talented folks. Randy's production is as clean as a train whistle and Loretta is still Loretta and still country. I hope for her next project she puts the pen to the paper and writes some more of those great songs like only she can do. Welcome back Ma'am and please don't wait so long to visit us again....country music NEEDS you.

Jim Hughes

The Recordman