Post by kathyb on Jan 27, 2004 13:47:16 GMT -5
I've never given an album review here on the Click (or anywhere else for that matter), but I thought I'd give it a try. Might be fun. Please forgive my inexperience. 
Just Because I'm a Woman--Songs of Dolly Parton
This is a tribute album to the songs of Dolly Parton, sung by various female artists. Let's begin:
9 to 5--Alison Krauss
Alison is not one of my favorite singers, but she does an adequate job with this song. The arrangement is slower than Dolly's original, with a little more piano. Not bad, but I probably would have liked it better if someone else had sung it. ;D
I Will Always Love You--Melissa Etheridge
Melissa IS my favorite singer, so of course this is my favorite track on the album. But I'll try to give an objective review, since I don't think too many people on the Click are big Melissa fans.
I'm sure when people think of I Will Always Love You, they immediately think of the Whitney Houston version, even before Dolly's. Well, now, hopefully, they'll also think of Melissa's version. LOL! Melissa is a little more restrained on this song than on some of her own songs. Her voice is almost "breathy" through the song--not so verbose. Maybe it could be described as a "quiet intensity". Pretty good, huh? ;D
The Grass is Blue--Norah Jones
This is a Dolly song I was not familiar with, so I really have nothing to compare Norah's version with. I do like this version, and will have to seek out Dolly's original sometime. The song is all about someone who was dumped by their "significant other" and she doesn't know how she's going to cope. Then she has a change of heart, and realizes she's gonna be ok. Maybe. "I'm all right now that I'm over you. And the sky is green and the grass is blue".
Do I Ever Cross Your Mind--Joan Osborne
This is one of my favorite songs of Dolly's and Joan does a great job with it. Joan is somebody that I don't think about much, but she's a very good singer, and I should investigate her further sometime.
The Seeker--Shelby Lynne
I really like this song. Shelby brings a bluesy, jazzy feel to this, and it's excellent. It has a gospel tinge to it, too. It's a great tap your toes, snap your fingers song.
Jolene--Mindy Smith
This is an ok rendition of Jolene, but imo, Melissa Etheridge would have done a better job. Just seems to me Jolene is the type of song that you could rock out with, and Melissa would have been perfect. As it is, Mindy's version is...good, but not great. I'm not familiar with Mindy Smith. Anyone out there know anything about her?
To Daddy--Emmylou Harris
This is probably the one song on the CD that sticks closest to the original. I like Emmylou, but she doesn't usually stray too far from the norm when it comes to her singing. LOL! She always sounds the same to me. And it works for her, so that's ok.
Coat of Many Colors--Shania Twain with Alison Krauss & Union Station
Speaking of someone who always sounds the same. ;D Actually, this isn't bad. I don't mind Shania. She has a nice voice. She just doesn't bring much to this song, imo. And Alison singing backup doesn't do much for me either. LOL!
Little Sparrow--Kasey Chambers
I've never heard anything else by Kasey Chambers. I don't know anything about her. She has an interesting voice. It took me awhile to get used to it. It's kind of...I don't know..."harsh". LOL! Needless to say, her rendition of this song didn't make me want to go looking for anything else by her.
Dagger Through the Heart--Sinead O'Connor
This is one of Dolly's more recent songs, and I had never heard it. This is an "angry" song--something that you don't really think of when you think of Dolly. Sinead seems pretty angry to me most of the time, so this is probably a good choice of song for her. This is pretty "countrified", though, so it is unusual to hear Sinead's voice singing angrily through the fiddles and banjos. LOL! But somehow it works. One quibble: When Sinead says "through", it sometimes sounds like "true". I was distracted by that.
Light of a Clear Blue Morning--Allison Moorer
This is way different from Dolly's original. Dolly's is upbeat, rollicking. Allison's is much slower, more thoughtful. Almost prayerful. I had to get used to it, but I've come to like it a lot. This version makes you listen to the lyrics a lot more. Good stuff!
Two Doors Down--Me'Shell N'Degeocello
Another very different version. The bassline is the star here, as you would expect with a Me'Shell song. I found myself "banging my head" to this. LOL! It's a pretty good rendition. Nothing like Dolly's though. One thing: The song just kinda fades out. No definitive ending to it, really.
Just Because I'm a Woman--Dolly Parton
The CD describes this as a "bonus track". And it's pure Dolly. She still has the pipes after all these years. This song has a little gospel feel to it, and a positive message. "Yes I've made my mistakes. But you listen and understand. My mistakes are no worse than yours. Just because I'm a woman."
Just Because I'm a Woman--Songs of Dolly Parton
This is a tribute album to the songs of Dolly Parton, sung by various female artists. Let's begin:
9 to 5--Alison Krauss
Alison is not one of my favorite singers, but she does an adequate job with this song. The arrangement is slower than Dolly's original, with a little more piano. Not bad, but I probably would have liked it better if someone else had sung it. ;D
I Will Always Love You--Melissa Etheridge
Melissa IS my favorite singer, so of course this is my favorite track on the album. But I'll try to give an objective review, since I don't think too many people on the Click are big Melissa fans.
I'm sure when people think of I Will Always Love You, they immediately think of the Whitney Houston version, even before Dolly's. Well, now, hopefully, they'll also think of Melissa's version. LOL! Melissa is a little more restrained on this song than on some of her own songs. Her voice is almost "breathy" through the song--not so verbose. Maybe it could be described as a "quiet intensity". Pretty good, huh? ;D
The Grass is Blue--Norah Jones
This is a Dolly song I was not familiar with, so I really have nothing to compare Norah's version with. I do like this version, and will have to seek out Dolly's original sometime. The song is all about someone who was dumped by their "significant other" and she doesn't know how she's going to cope. Then she has a change of heart, and realizes she's gonna be ok. Maybe. "I'm all right now that I'm over you. And the sky is green and the grass is blue".
Do I Ever Cross Your Mind--Joan Osborne
This is one of my favorite songs of Dolly's and Joan does a great job with it. Joan is somebody that I don't think about much, but she's a very good singer, and I should investigate her further sometime.
The Seeker--Shelby Lynne
I really like this song. Shelby brings a bluesy, jazzy feel to this, and it's excellent. It has a gospel tinge to it, too. It's a great tap your toes, snap your fingers song.
Jolene--Mindy Smith
This is an ok rendition of Jolene, but imo, Melissa Etheridge would have done a better job. Just seems to me Jolene is the type of song that you could rock out with, and Melissa would have been perfect. As it is, Mindy's version is...good, but not great. I'm not familiar with Mindy Smith. Anyone out there know anything about her?
To Daddy--Emmylou Harris
This is probably the one song on the CD that sticks closest to the original. I like Emmylou, but she doesn't usually stray too far from the norm when it comes to her singing. LOL! She always sounds the same to me. And it works for her, so that's ok.
Coat of Many Colors--Shania Twain with Alison Krauss & Union Station
Speaking of someone who always sounds the same. ;D Actually, this isn't bad. I don't mind Shania. She has a nice voice. She just doesn't bring much to this song, imo. And Alison singing backup doesn't do much for me either. LOL!
Little Sparrow--Kasey Chambers
I've never heard anything else by Kasey Chambers. I don't know anything about her. She has an interesting voice. It took me awhile to get used to it. It's kind of...I don't know..."harsh". LOL! Needless to say, her rendition of this song didn't make me want to go looking for anything else by her.
Dagger Through the Heart--Sinead O'Connor
This is one of Dolly's more recent songs, and I had never heard it. This is an "angry" song--something that you don't really think of when you think of Dolly. Sinead seems pretty angry to me most of the time, so this is probably a good choice of song for her. This is pretty "countrified", though, so it is unusual to hear Sinead's voice singing angrily through the fiddles and banjos. LOL! But somehow it works. One quibble: When Sinead says "through", it sometimes sounds like "true". I was distracted by that.
Light of a Clear Blue Morning--Allison Moorer
This is way different from Dolly's original. Dolly's is upbeat, rollicking. Allison's is much slower, more thoughtful. Almost prayerful. I had to get used to it, but I've come to like it a lot. This version makes you listen to the lyrics a lot more. Good stuff!
Two Doors Down--Me'Shell N'Degeocello
Another very different version. The bassline is the star here, as you would expect with a Me'Shell song. I found myself "banging my head" to this. LOL! It's a pretty good rendition. Nothing like Dolly's though. One thing: The song just kinda fades out. No definitive ending to it, really.
Just Because I'm a Woman--Dolly Parton
The CD describes this as a "bonus track". And it's pure Dolly. She still has the pipes after all these years. This song has a little gospel feel to it, and a positive message. "Yes I've made my mistakes. But you listen and understand. My mistakes are no worse than yours. Just because I'm a woman."
