Red Dirt Girl

amerískt fólkköntrí. stundum frávik í trommutöktum sem kemur misvel út. en fínn söngur og um margt gott. gef aðra. 3,5.

I really tried with this one and no luck. Why this album by her? Didn’t make sen

Really emotional and interesting, haunting production. Lots of biblical and mythic references. Surprisingly heavy, very authentic Country, and Emmylou Harris voice is iconic.

No way is she on here 3 times.

Bang the Drum Slowly goes in. The rest of the album is a snooze fest 😴

It's not terrible, just uninteresting. Like a bland version of Fleetwood Mac. Favorite song: the pearl

Not a fan of the genre but it was nice.

Is it folk, country, Americana? Not terrible as background coffee shop music but sitting down to listen in my car just found myself not paying attention

There is so much production on this and I'm not a huge fan. These songs feel so lifeless. Bang The Drim Slowly into J'ai fait tout is the opposite of a good one two in the middle of the album. One Big Love was the first song I genuinely enjoyed. What a disappointment!

Passable I suppose. 2.5stars.

Excellent!!

Very soothing on a busy day. Not necessarily my thing but hit the spot.

Folk...and that's it? I donno I really don't have anq ear for folk...rarely can I tell if a folk song is good or not...this is...well, pretty boring to me.

I always like a well done genre blend. This wasn't always the most captivating but the high point were beautiful.

I'm not sure how this list breaks down in terms of songs from which decades but this feels like a token inclusion to get another 1 in the 2000's. Her 18th album and this is the best, I doubt it very much

Started good got bland and sounded like the same thing over and over again toward the end.

It was okay, she has an amazing voice though!

This one grew on me. I didn’t understand why it was in this list until I got to Red Dirt Girl. First song I really liked was Jai fait tout. I enjoyed her storytelling, she’s leagues ahead of T.swift.

Excellent!

on first blush I was not a fan, but listening more it did grow on me a lot. I don't like it as much as her earlier stuff, but there are a lot of cool melodies and inspirations being pulled in here, and her songwriting is fantastic. it does also sound a little of its time in some respects, which to me is not a compliment. this is another one where i think it may actually be a 4 but I'm feeling generous and well disposed towards it

Great album. Emmylou paved the way for those that followed.

Didn’t grab me Might be a grower not a shower Too long to absorb in a day Country/christian/folk?

Maybe a 3.5, a great voice

That was pretty miserable to get through. A singer from Alabama is always unique so I was rooting for it but couldn’t stand it. Rating: 1.8

Zzzz. Not my thing. Will I revisit?: low priority Current rating: 4.5/10

Emmylou Harris has been around all my adult life and on the fringes of my consciousness but never taken any notice of her. American Country Music has never taken a hold of me so explains my ignorance of Ms Harris. So having been somewhat forced to listen to her today I expected the usual countyfide sound. To the contrary I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the presence and elements of Country there was much to enjoy here. Some sweet singing and tight arrangements made this an enjoyable hour as I listened whilst out on a walk with AirPods. Probably the best environment for me to listen as I cannot see me again sitting down and listening constructively. 3/5 12/2/25

Is this country? Folk? Both? Whatever genre it is, I don't like it. Every song sounds the same and I don't find any of it very appealing. At one point I thought to myself, how did this get worse? And it turns out Dave Matthews showed up on one of the tracks.

Not for me this. It’s ‘mum music’ in my opinion. Not keen on her voice and it’s just generally not very interesting to me. Not a fan of this kind of country music in the first place.

I thought I would like it more than I did but it's a nice album for background music at work.

Alright, not my style

Ugh that was a slog

Liked it more than I thought I would.

Cool

Lush, beautiful, hard, sad, sweet... I don't have enough adjectives to describe Emmylou Harris' Red Dirt Girl. Probably her last truly great album (Ok Maybe Stumble Into Grace was the last), Red Dirt Girl is an emotional powerhouse of an album. The title track alone makes this album worthwhile, but the song My Antonia with Dave Matthews is a kick in the emotions. It has all the feels, love, longing betrayal, deep deep sadness. This is Emmylou as a mature singer and expert songwriter. It's just wonderful.

No thanks.

Never heard of her, and not particularly interested in this album.

Emmylou Harris has one of the most distinctive and wonderful voices. A good album although I am not sure this is the best or most defining of Harris's career.

Just found it to be way too schmaltzy. Like, it wasn't bad but I fail to engage with it on any level? I usually assume that's a me problem with albums and artists at this level of renown...here I don't think so.

Very pretty album. She has a lovely voice. Favorites: J'ai fait tout

Her voice is heavenly but the songs with few exceptions were just boring.

Snoozeville

Not really my scene but this was OK. Even heard some crunch in the guitar for a more rock sound. It's not perfect. It's too long but it's listenable.

decent, not as good as I was expecting. Expecting more hard edged country music.

Eh

5/10 = 3

I've already forgotten about all of this album, and I'm still listening to it. EmmyWHO Harris?

Dear Bri'ish guy, Thank you for giving me this album. I don't know how I lived without it. Sincerely with love, Me.

Cheeks 1.5

I just can’t right now. It was almost 30 years ago when my wife first introduced me to this music. And now we are going through the long and painful process of separation and probably divorce. I want to love this music again someday but I’m not sure infirm going to be able to.

Really pretty pointless album. Unless you were like a middle aged librarian twenty five years ago, who cares about this? So many better albums could've been here instead of this. Way too many of these older, late albums. They should've gotten someone who wasn't seventy to help with this list

Incredible album of subtlety and beauty.

🫠

Title track absolutely carries, the rest is forgettable

It's pretty interesting that Harris took her first stab at writing the majority of her own music so late in her career. And why not? She'd been covering other artists for decades before this. Yet there's a certain vulnerability with putting your own literal voice against your own literal voice. It's a good album, with a lot of powerful messages. The blend of country and folk, set against the heavy, slow drums works well. It's Harris's voice that really carries the album, as with her past ones, but it's really not a bad effort at all even without that. It's not one that I'd return to much, but I still enjoyed it.

Ég mundir varla hvað ég hafði hlustað á eftir að ég hafði hlustað á þessa plötu. Hún skildi ekkert eftir. Ég sé hélt ég væri orðinn meiri kántrýæta en svo kemur þessi plata og þá langar mig bara ekki í meira. Ekki leiðinleg en ekki eftirminnileg heldur.

## In-Depth Review of *Red Dirt Girl* by Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris's album *Red Dirt Girl*, released on September 12, 2000, marks a significant evolution in her career. Known for her interpretative prowess, this album features eleven original songs, showcasing her songwriting abilities alongside her distinctive vocal style. The album's themes delve into personal struggles, lost dreams, and the complexities of life in small-town America. This review will explore the lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence of the album while also discussing its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrics of *Red Dirt Girl* are poignant and narrative-driven, centering primarily around the character Lillian, a fictional composite representing many women who feel trapped by their circumstances. The opening track, "Red Dirt Girl," paints a vivid picture of Lillian's life with her friend on the porch, juxtaposing innocence with the harsh realities that follow. The recurring motif of "red dirt" serves as a metaphor for both geographical and emotional grounding. Key lyrical themes include: - **Dreams vs. Reality**: Lillian dreams of escaping her small town but ultimately finds herself stuck in a cycle of despair. This is encapsulated in lines like “there’s not much hope for a red dirt girl” which evoke a sense of longing for something greater. - **Loss and Regret**: The narrative explores Lillian's brother's death in Vietnam and how it shapes her life choices. The line "He never got farther than Vietnam" symbolizes lost potential and unfulfilled dreams. - **Voicelessness**: Harris highlights the stories of those who often go unheard. Lillian’s tragic end is described as “there won’t be a mention in the News of the World,” emphasizing societal neglect for individual stories. The lyrical depth is complemented by Harris's ability to convey emotion through her delivery, making the listener feel the weight of Lillian’s experiences. ### Music Musically, *Red Dirt Girl* blends elements of country, folk, and rock, reflecting Harris's diverse influences. The production features: - **Instrumentation**: The album includes acoustic guitars, subtle piano lines, and light percussion that create an intimate atmosphere. Notably, the use of drum loops adds a contemporary touch that distinguishes it from traditional country sounds. - **Vocal Performance**: Harris’s voice is central to the album’s appeal. Her delivery ranges from tender to powerful, capturing the emotional nuances of each song. Tracks like "One Big Love" showcase her ability to infuse energy into more upbeat compositions. - **Production Quality**: Produced by Malcolm Burn, known for his work on *Wrecking Ball*, the album maintains a polished yet organic sound. However, some critiques suggest that certain tracks may feel overly produced or lack distinctiveness due to similar mid-tempo arrangements. ### Themes The overarching themes of *Red Dirt Girl* revolve around: - **Identity and Place**: The notion of being rooted in one’s hometown while yearning for more is prevalent throughout the album. The "red dirt" symbolizes both heritage and confinement. - **Female Experience**: Harris gives voice to women's struggles in a patriarchal society. Lillian’s story reflects broader societal issues faced by women who grapple with expectations versus aspirations. - **Mortality and Legacy**: The album contemplates how lives can go unnoticed and uncelebrated. It raises questions about what constitutes a meaningful life and how personal histories are often overlooked. ### Influence *Red Dirt Girl* has been influential in several ways: - **Artistic Shift**: This album marks a turning point for Harris as she transitions from primarily covering songs to showcasing her own songwriting talents. Critics have noted this shift as a maturation in her artistry. - **Cultural Reflection**: The themes resonate with listeners who have experienced similar feelings of entrapment or loss. It has been cited as an essential work in understanding contemporary country music's evolution. - **Critical Acclaim**: The album has been included in various lists of must-hear albums and has received praise for its storytelling and emotional depth, solidifying Harris's legacy as a significant figure in American music. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Lyrical Depth**: The storytelling is rich and evocative, providing listeners with relatable narratives that explore complex emotions. - **Vocal Performance**: Emmylou Harris delivers an exceptional vocal performance that enhances the emotional weight of the lyrics. - **Innovative Production**: The blend of traditional instrumentation with modern production techniques creates a unique sound that appeals to both classic country fans and new listeners. #### Cons - **Pacing Issues**: Some tracks may feel monotonous due to similar tempos and arrangements, potentially leading to listener fatigue over time. - **Overproduction Concerns**: Certain songs may come off as overly polished or lacking rawness that could enhance their emotional impact. - **Limited Distinctiveness**: While many songs are well-crafted, some critics argue that they do not stand out individually within the album context. ### Conclusion In summary, *Red Dirt Girl* is a significant work in Emmylou Harris's discography that showcases her evolution as both an artist and songwriter. Its exploration of themes such as lost dreams, identity, and female experience resonates deeply with listeners. While it has its drawbacks—such as pacing issues and moments of overproduction—the overall impact of the album remains profound. It not only solidifies Harris’s place in music history but also serves as an important reflection on the human condition through its rich storytelling and emotive performances.

I am so sorry. Emmylou sounded lovely, but I was very very bored with half the album.

Moments of this album sounds country and other more folk. I guess it falls into Americana which can all sound very similar to me. Even though she has an iconic voice I didn't love this

Country music is awful. This album didn't change my mind.

Wasn't huge on this. "Hour of Gold" and the shepherd one was nice. Never heard of this artist so nice to hear something completely new.

Some songs were good. Generally not very memorable so can’t say much!

I was very relieved when this turned out to be an Americana album and not a Country one. It’s still not really my genre, but I still enjoyed this well enough. The first song was very good, and I thought it sounded a lot like Big Thief. Things got very samey quickly though and it went a bit into the background. I don’t have a lot else to say, but thought it was still perfectly good. I may like it a bit more if I did more listens.

Can we talk about the length of career???

When the gods reached out and touched the voices of women country musci artists, one of the first whom they commissioned was Emmylou Harris. A beautiful album. What's not to love?

Hey, this is great! Normally, I'm a lot more strict with my 5-stars or 10/10 ratings but judging from the contents of this list so far I'm going to have precious few good albums.

Soft country.

Look - folk music isn’t my jam but this has some ethereal middle-eastern juju wrapped up in heartfelt and heart-wrenching melodies. I’ll happily let this be a pinnacle of the folk pantheon.

Liked it more than I thought I would!

Honestly I like her voice, but I just can't stand Americana. The intricate storytelling is annoying. I'll read a book if I'm looking for exposition. There are way too many christian references for my comfort level. It has its moments of beauty and melody, but more often than not bounces between boring and feeling like it's pandering to a specific demographic that I'm not part of. There are a few instances where it seems to break out of the Americana mold (hearing some trip-hop inspired drum production), but they are too few and still not super interesting to me.

turns out dave mathews can suck on other peoples albums too

Good album! Emmy Lou Harris is a country music icon so when I saw this album come up, I thought that is what I'd be getting. While the album has some of those elements, I did not feel like I was listening to country music. It is something else entirely. Not quite country and not quite folk either. There are some rock elements too. It is very lush, heartfelt, spritual and melancholy. Anyway, interesting album. Glad I heard it

Not super familiar with Emmylou Harris, but I know that she is well respected in the country genre. This album seemed nice enough but I couldn't help feeling its inclusion on this list was the musical equivalent of Scorsese winning an Oscar for "The Departed". 3.5 stars

Well this was a pleasant surprise. Just a beautiful album from beginning to end. Of course Emmylou has a great voice, but the songwriting was top notch and production and world influences surprisingly effective.

Very bland and inoffensive, almost comforting as it's so well produced. It washed over me without making any impact whatsoever, in an almost pleasant way. I was almost impressed by how I listened to something that was almost an hour long without feeling anything whatsoever. It's music I could imagine being played in a dentists waiting room. I could see myself listening to this if I wanted to go to sleep. It's not music I would go out of my way to ever hear again though, unless I was really, really tired and had insomnia I guess? Two stars.

I really did not mind this. SO much better than the album the day before.

A bit meh

It’s fine. But emmylou has done better. Give us her best.

As an enjoyer of both folk and country Emmylou Harris name comes up time and time again. Her 2000's release may be a "return to greatness" but it was a bit lackluster. I mean yesterday we listened to Nick Drake's Masterpiece Pink Moon which literally defines folk music and supercharges it to a melodic high point. So I guess what I'm trying to say is this is an outlier in both communities folk and country and by no means the incredible album some people think it might be. I don't doubt Emmylou, but this ain't it. This is for sad 90s mom's who think the best times are behind them and need sad music to feel the pain.

Stick to doing covers. Nice voice but this is really bland paint by numbers country music.

Really have no idea why this is in the list. Seems like the only remarkable thing about it is that she actually manages to write her own unremarkable songs after 20 odd albums of covers :/

Thought this was really charming with solid production. Flirted with a 4.

I saw the album title, the artist's name, the cover, the genre of music and even skimmed through a few reviews and I thought 'I'm going to really struggle with this one'. Quite the opposite in reality because this was a delight to listen to. Never heard of Emmylou Harris but I like her voice. It's supposedly country music, but I would barely describe it as such. It's got hints of country, definitely, but it's more folky. The tracks that have a tinge of sadness are the best ones. I don't know if that's a reflection on me or not, but I genuinely think they're the strongest songs on the album. The first two tracks, 'The Pearl' and 'Michelangelo' for example are a great opening one two gut punch. They sound very bittersweet as does 'Bang The Drum Slowly'. I think she just has a voice for the slower, more emotional songs. Overall, a very pleasant surprise and an album I would be glad to listen to in full if it was ever put on.

I get it. Hearing that this is where Emmylou comes into her own with songwriting - this late in her career - really shows how she has evolved as an artist. She has history and experience in the genre, and still manages to share a fresh take and voice.

I mean it's not offensively boring but it's not really that interesting and I've got really nothing to say about it.

Good performance, but the style mostly doesn't interest me. Sometimes I feel guilty for complaining about length but I'm still going to do it here: every song on Red Dirt Girl feels too long. Until you get to the last 2 tracks, everything runs 4 or 5 minutes. As a consequence, the album runs nearly an hour. Sigh.

I know her from a guest appearance w/ the Band in the Last Waltz, but this album wasn't for me. Made me kind of sleepy.

I liked this more than I thought I would but I also didn’t like it…?

Seemed like a softer Melissa Ethridge. Heavy country bent while still trying to lean to the rock/pop charts. I think I liked her more trad country stuff more than this. The attempt to be a cross-over makes a result that is more like easy listening. When you polish off the rough edges of both genres, you leave a boring stone that slips out of your hands and your head. One Big Love is on this album but Patty Griffen version is MUCH better. Looking it up, Emmy Lou is covering the original and not doing it justice, IMHO.

I see why I skipped this before.

Great songwriting, emotionally resonant lyrics, lovely melodies. This album is great, though I do think Harris' voice isn't the best and you'd have to be in the right mood to listen to this one straight through. Several songs went into my favourites

This felt like the ghost of something. I actually would like to hear an album from earlier in her catalog. And I think I did earlier in this project. This album just feels like it's tired.

I've heard of Harris, but not heard her music. The songwriting and musicianship is so strong and beautiful. This is certainly more of a folk or folk-rock album than country. It was a surprisingly good listen! Liked Songs Added: The Pearl

It's a decent spin. I will probably not return to it though.

Fine. Not a great country fan

54/100. Decent at best. For me, this album is pretty unremarkable—the singing pitch doesn’t vary much throughout the tracks. With a runtime of around an hour, the songs started to blend together and felt overly repetitive after a while. The music itself was fine, but as an album, it just didn’t click for me.

I’ll be honest - I expected a load of crapness going into this because it’s country music and that rarely vibes with me. And after track one I thought I’d probably be right but there was a seed of doubt in that it wasn’t quite as bad as I expected. As the album went on, I found myself enjoying it more and more, and being very happy to be wrong about my initial impression. I’d always rather have a nice time than a bad time, and this one ended up being the former.

Exceeded expectations. A pretty mix of acoustic and electric country/folk rock, but it never goes *too* country for me and the melodies are superb. Think James Taylor at times, or later Mark Knopfler. Strong vocals too. Opener The Pearl is one of the best tracks but there's lots of good ones on the first half. The back half isn't as good for me, but still an excellent album. Favorites: The Pearl, Red Dirt Girl, My Baby Needs a Shepherd, Bang the Drum Slowly.

Not for me

Shit

3.5! Some neat instrumentation here, though they all do start to blend together

6/10 Some nice folk vocals and some inspired instrumental work. 12-19-2024

Get some good headphones and find a quiet place to listen without distraction. This is a beautiful album, almost ethereal in places. While, I personally think it falls short in places, this is deserving of your time.

I thought emmylou was a country lady from the 50-60s. Surprised to see this was released in 2000. It’s fine not inspired enough to look her up at all. She sounded like Susanna Hoffs from the bangles at times. It was boring.

i hate country music from the start 2/5

It’s fine. Harris’ voice is great and all the musicians play their parts well, but it’s just so dull. This is Harris’ 19th(!) album and her first with mostly original compositions and I can’t say I have much interest in hearing anyone’s 19th album. It’s usually not their best work.

Bedre end jeg forventede, men det trækker noget ned, at den er så uessentiel. Generøs 2'er

Havde meget lave forventninger efter Trio, det var egentlig okay, meget mere variereret. Stor 2er.

If only this album could have been a set of songs like J'ai fait tout.

I like the voice and I like the idea of a country legend trying something a bit different. Unfortunately for me there is no stand out track - everythings generally very pleasant and MOR but lacking real moments.

Not a fan, but I feel that I cannot give this lower than a three.

This one wasn’t for me. Her voice is beautiful, but there wasn’t a single track that caught my attention

No está mal pero no es muy mi onda. Buen country pero prefiero a otros artistas del género.

Joo nyt ei kyllä kristillinen mitäänsanomattomuus iskenyt. Pääosin en tykännyt mistään. Viimeissä kappaleessa ihan mielenkiintoiset sanat mutta se ei oikein tätä pelasta.

3

Some of the most pleasant country music from this list so far. So warm, yet muddy, and Emmylou's melodies are some of the most soothing I've heard from this strain of alt-country. It's almost unsettling how these acoustic and electric guitar melodies linger in the mix, floating like lost souls - especially on the title track and 'Bang the Drum Slowly'. The lyrics are nostalgic and melancholic - or maybe it's just Harris' knack for these hole-in-your-heart-inducing melodies that make you realize you're not actually as happy as you think you are. In a lot of ways, I have very little to say about this album. I'd go as far as to say that there were very few "standout" moments. But it's all just so peaceful, like the sight of a warm shack in the middle of a damp forest. And then I'm lying on a couch in that shack, by a crackling fire. Good music!

Langweilig.

Pleasant. But if I never heard it again, or never had heard it, I don't think my life would be any the poorer. 2⭐️

237/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

an OK record, a few good songs, but overall average

Interesting listen 3/5

Very relaxing album. Reminds me of my mother

Emmylou Harris is an amazing singer - an American treasure to my mind - but her material is rarely worthy of her and this collection is unfortunately no exception.

I suspect we won't get too many artists or bands that have had 19 studio albums behind their name (especially by the year 2000), so that in itself is impressive. And this is an interesting album, at least for someone (like myself) who doesn't really know Emmylou Harris' prodigious output aside from knowing (vaguely and maybe incorrectly) that she's primarily a country singer. I liked how the opening track ("The pearl") had a very Daniel Lanois-sounding vibe to it, and I also like it that she wrote or co-wrote most of the album's songs. (And I appreciate it that the "1001 albums" entry notes her connection to Daniel Lanois, as his style and influence is strong throughout much of this album.) Her default folk/country sound isn't my favorite, but she does it well and there's a lot more variety throughout the album than I expected; I particularly enjoyed "I don't want to talk about it now", "Red dirt girl", and "J'ai fait tout". Thankfully it doesn't sound at all like she's just dialing it in after 30+ years of surviving the music circuit and a lot of ups and downs, plus an amazingly broad number of collaborations and shared music projects across the decades. (I'm now very interested in hearing her collaborations with Mark Knopfler as well as with Rodney Crowell--I'd guess those are great combinations.) The album is a bit long in the tooth at times, and some songs are just too we-are-the-world-invoking ("One big love" especially), but I enjoyed listening to it much more than I expected.

TIL that Emmylou Harris is not a good songwriter.

Ok

This album fucking rocks. Emmylou is the best. I love her. Such a beautiful voice. Really good production and a surprising amount of originality for an album so late in her career. This is really good. 4/5

ZERO STARS!!!!

It’s fine. I knew nothing of her prior and doubt I will ever go out of my way to hear her again. Just not for me. But I still enjoyed it despite itself.

I love Emmylou, especially her work with Gram Parsons and her solo work immediately following, but this is not my favorite. It's boring and monotonous. And is that Dave Mathews? Fuck outta here with that shit.

Nah.

this was fine to have on in the background, it started and I thought I was going to hate it, but her voice is great although nohing in here blew my socks off. Fave song was "I ain't living like this", probably cos it was the most upbeat and had some decent guitar work

Really good album from a super cool lady. I loved the title track, J’ai fait tout, and My Antonia (with a nice Dave Matthews appearance).

This isn't a bad album, but it took me 3 different attempts to listen to the whole thing. I'm assuming "Red Dirt Girl" is a return to form kind of album from Emmylou Harris since it came out around 15 years after her most popular songs. While I think it's important to highlight good artists deeper cuts, I don't think that this was essential listening. This is essentially off side road country music. I enjoy it, but I didn't NEED to listen to it. Best Songs: Red Dirt Girl, One Big Love Worst Songs: Tragedy, Bang the Drum Slowly

It was okay. My mind was too preoccupied with the election to be paying attention.

Not bad but I won’t be listening again

Beautiful, soulful singer, J’ai fait tout is a mysteriously lovely song

This album is a 4.99999 for me

I had known that Emmylou Harris was very highly regarded in the Americana/country realm when I was younger, but having little interest in that branch of music, I didn't know any of her stuff. I came to Emmylou Harris with her collaboration with Daniel Lanois in 1995 with Wrecking Ball, and her shimmering and expressive voice enraptured me. I've been a fan ever since. Now that I know her earlier stuff (back to the mid-1970's), I consider Wrecking Ball the sea change in her sound, and Red Dirt Girl is more of the same. However, this is notable as an album of her own compositions. Lovely songs, beautiful production, and an adventure for the mind, heart, and ears. Only giving it 4 because I think that Wrecking Ball really was the monumental sonic shift in her catalog.

Very chill folk rock music. She has a nice voice. Kinda the same vibe as the Indigo Girls, but not as good imho.

mmmm no

This was ok, but I doubt I will ever listen to this or any other Emmylou albums again

Not bad at all, great voice. Hour of Gold is my favorite song from this album.

Beautiful voice, but the music didn't grab me.

Good gawd this was a really tough to make it through for this listener. Very good voice but this music just bores the shit out of me. Yea, The Boy from Tupelo is Elvis. Cool. This was a struggle no doubt. Can't see any situation I would want to hear this again.

3.5 I wasn’t expecting much given that this is a later career release from a popular 70s country star in the Y2Kountry era, but she was actually kind of cooking here. I mean, whenever you see an artist some 30 years into their career attempt to modernize their sound, it feels like 9 out of 10 times they fall flat on their faces in the process. Hell, production aside, just being able to maintain the same quality of songwriting that many years down the line seems to be a feat for most artists, and yet Emmylou Harris manages to pull it off pretty well here. I’m not saying this is an amazing album by any means, but as someone who was never the biggest fan of hers to begin with (when not paired with Conor Oberst that is), to compare the quality of this to Pieces of the Sky I think is saying something. One of my biggest complaints about Pieces of the Sky was that only one song was actually written by Emmylou, but 17 releases later, it seems that she was finally ready to tackle an entire album’s worth (except for one song, ironically). I have no idea why she wasn’t able to summon the confidence or creativity to do so until now, but the wait paid off - the storytelling here is among some of the best I’ve heard in country music. Red Dirt Girl in particular is a strong, though tragic telling of a young Southern wife’s descent into depression and addiction, and Bang the Drum Slowly, a track dedicated to her father, is a touching inclusion as well. Aside from storytelling, there’s also a very strong sense of catchiness here as well, especially for an album that borders on folk music, with The Pearl, Michelangelo, and One Big Love (the one track here not written by her) all being ones that stuck with me after my listening. The duet on My Antonia also provided for an enjoyable listen, even with Dave Matthews being the male vocalist. I’m really not a fan at all of the guy’s band, but it seems Emmylou’s music helps with my tolerability of the guy immensely. That all to say, everything I didn’t list above is pretty forgettable - which, when you look at the tracklist, is half of what this album offers. For that reason, I struggled a bit with my rating on this one, but I think to list the other half of the album as highlights is saying something as well. While I’m not rushing out to put any songs in my Spotify playlists (at least not yet), I think this is a strong country album that would get another play out of me.

Why is this on here

it was aight 👍 i wouldn't care if i never heard it again

I don't think I can get through this one Will I listen to again: 0%

Favourite song - one big love 2.5 stars

It's just so boring. Pleasant and pretty enough musically and lyrically though not without its occasional lazy feeling annoyance (everybody do like a monkey if you wanna go on and be funky" struck me as particularly lame. All of "One Big Love" in fact was a hard pass for me). It's just overall very, very boring.

Feels like November in a handcrafts boutique.

En saa tästä muuta irti kuin että nättiä on… vähän liian kiltti tyttö -folkia. Herätä minut raflaavammilla soinnuilla tai sanavalinnoilla, toivon!

Miten lisäisi ulkoa opeteltuun biisintekoon uuden vivahteen? Ottamalla käyttöön vuoden 2000 tuliterät tehosteet: hifi-äänenlaadun ja Anssi Kela -rumpukompin. Not for me.

Same damn song 12 times

It was alright but nothing wowing me. DMB was a fun surprise

This was great would definitely come back to this.

Pleasant listening and I liked it well enough.

Was considering a 3 since I found it pleasant and technically good. However, I would never actually seen this out to listen to again, so that makes it a 2.

Red Dirt Girl I’m a sucker for late career albums like this, when commercial and career expectations are low and there’s a sense of nothing to prove. Having said that, there are some absolute stinkers in that field, but thankfully this is not a stinker at all, rather it hits all the right marks - tasteful, restrained, and with a melancholic sense of lives lived and experience gained - a combination that works for me. And it particularly works when it's in the country/folk/rock genre like this, and it especially works with someone like Emmylou Harris with her fantastic, gentle, evocative voice and slightly spectral presence. The only danger with this could be whether the late 90s production and drum loops are too prominent and distracting, but for the most part that’s not an issue, aside from the odd guitar part here and there. In fact the drum loops give it a nice shuffley and ethereal rhythmic sense, and I really like how they have woven in middle eastern textures, sounds and instruments with those drum loops and the country folk guitars to make a very immersive and atmospheric listen. The Pearl is a lovely ruminative opener about hardship and endurance. The christian imagery may be a bit on the nose but it's a great track hinting at the themes and sounds of the album. Michelangelo’s country folkness and vivid imagery are great, but her voice really elevates it. I Don’t Want to Talk About it Now is excellent, notwithstanding the slightly egregious wah wah/guitar effects, a great groove, melody and atmosphere. Tragedy has a lovely melody and another great vocal, as well as a very delicate and sensitive piano part helping echo the feelings of lost love. More loss and sadness permeates Red Dirt Girl, one of the more obviously country tracks, but again it’s a great little track. More religiousness on My Baby Needs a Shepherd, and I like the interpolation of Too ra loo, giving it a hymnal, lullaby quality and Ethan John’s baritone guitar is very tasteful too. Further spectral and ethereal atmospherics on Bang the Drum Slowly. The echoing percussion could be cheesy, but it works with the floating piano and musical texture. Some of it reminds me of The Rising, the Springsteen album, from a year or two after, which makes sense considering he appears on Tragedy and shares some of the middle eastern sounds. I love that Kate McGarrigle makes an appearance on J’Ai Fait Tout, it definitely has a very folk inspired melodic sense. The skittering drums work well, again they could easily feel out of place and too dated, but they are sympathetically arranged, giving it a nice tumbling rhythmic pattern. One Big Love is a great track, an excellent catchy melody and I love the organ in the intro. The lyric about letting go and taking chances is great, apart from the Monkey/Funky rhyme, which feels bad in a particularly middle aged way. Hour of Gold is excellent too, her gentle and evocative vocal is especially great with the longing and loss described in the words. My Antonia I’m not totally sure about, it’s a decent song but I don’t think Dave Matthews voice really suits the folk-ishness of the song or complements her voice that well, and is probably the one time the production moves from tasteful into vaguely distracting blandness. Fortunately Boy From Tupelo follows, a great track with nicely atmospheric guitar and a little tack piano part, the rolling percussion illustrating the keep on moving theme of the words. You could argue that there is a similarity to a lot of the tracks, perhaps feeling a little samey. I think that’s a fair argument, although its a sound and style I’m very on board with, and it also might be a consequence of it suffering from a bit of CD bloat. 55 mins is pretty long for 12 songs, a bit of judicious editing of song length to tighten it up would probably be beneficial. But overall it is delicately haunting and atmospheric listen, with her clear, beautiful, gentle and expressive voice, and it is a great example of a mature, late career album, similar to some of Springsteen’s later albums or something like Oh Mercy, with it’s reverb heavy production and slowed down tempos. Really not sure whether its 4 or 5 - I listened all day yesterday and this morning and didn’t really want to turn it off, and it will definitely go into rotation. As always I’ll go with the higher score - lifes too short to be parsimonious with an entirely arbitrary and subjective scoring system 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️ Playlist submission: One Big Love

Perfectly fine, but I didn't love it. 3.2

I appreciated this record and am excited to spin it up again.

J’ai fait tout is really good. One Big Love, Hour of Gold, My Antonia, too. Wish the rest was more like this. 3/5

Not bad by any means but I feel like one of emmylou's earlier albums would've been a better choice. "My baby needs a sheperd" was good, but a lot of these feel a bit generic. Good album, but I think there were better choices for this list

I mean it’s alright for what it is. She’s got a good voice.

I thought this was pretty good. Very chill album. Her voice is pretty and I like that the instruments were not overwhelming. Really enjoyed the country/folk crossover.

laiha nainen wibes... kiemurtelee lavalla, luinen käsi hakkaa vaahterakitaraa.. sairaan näkyinen otus silmät kiinni hoilaa. kaikkea sitä joutuu kestämään... imagine musliminainen... tekisi tälläistä musiikkia... دَ إِلَى الأَبَدِ آمِينبَانَا الذِي فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ، لِيَتَقَدَّسَ اسْمُكَ لِيَأْتِ مَلَكُوتُكَ لِتَكُنْ مَشِيئَتُكَ فِي الأَرْضِ كَمَا السَّمَاءِ اعْطِنَا خُبْزَنَا اليَوْمِيَّ اعْفِنَا فِي مِمَّا عَلَيْنَا فَقَدْ أَعْفَيْنَا نَحْنُ أيَضاً مَنْ لَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ تُدْخِلْنَا فِي تَجْرِبَةٍ لَكِنْ نَجِّنَا مِنَ الشِّرِّيرِ لأَنَّ لَكَ الْمُلْكَ وَالْقُوَّةَ وَالْمَجْدَ إِلَى دَ إِلَى الأَبَدِ آمِينبَانَا الذِي فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ، لِيَتَقَدَّسَ اسْمُكَ لِيَأْتِ مَلَكُوتُكَ لِتَكُنْ مَشِيئَتُكَ فِي الأَرْضِ كَمَا السَّمَاءِ اعْطِنَا خُبْزَنَا اليَوْمِيَّ اعْفِنَا فِي مِمَّا عَلَيْنَا فَقَدْ أَعْفَيْنَا نَحْنُ أيَضاً مَنْ لَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ تُدْخِلْنَا فِي تَجْرِبَةٍ لَكِنْ نَجِّنَا مِنَ الشِّرِّيرِ لأَنَّ لَكَ الْمُلْكَ وَالْقُوَّةَ وَالْمَجْدَ إِلَى . i dpomt wanna talk about it.

Ugh, I don't like country music. Interesting that this was her 19th album, and the first to have a majority of the songs self-composed.

Really good album. Emmylou Harris has an amazing voice.

Just crying my face off listening to this album. Five stars.

This does not fit my definition of Emmylou Harris. Sultry, emoitional, welcoming, warming. It's certainly intriguing. Fave tracks - "Michelangelo" and "J'ai Fait Tout"

This doesn't sound like my pre-conceived idea of country music. (Complimentary.) I see it's described as folk / world fusion, and yeah, that makes sense - I dig those genres and I dig what this is doing. It's really reminding me of another specific album but I can't quite put my finger on it. Fave tracks - "Michelangelo" and "J'ai Fait Tout"

Long, Lame and uninteresting melodies 2

Sembra un po' madonna

Meh. Had it on in the background and nothing stood out as something I'd ever choose to listen to again. Not my style at all.

Decent enough album; as someone has suggested it's odd that an artist's 458th album appears here above some others. Opening track is great.

You know what? I kind of like country music… …when it doesn’t actually sound like country music.

Really surprised by the match of 90s vibe and production with a country legend.

Carolyn would like this more than me. Reminds me of music my mom likes a lot.

It was okay. Truth ... I had to stop about half way through, it was a little bland. Don't get me wrong, I love Emmylou. She's beautiful, talented, and the voice is wonderful. But I started it back up the next day, and really enjoyed the rest of the album.

Rating: 5/10 Meh.

This is, to me, the beginning of her golden era. Super solid album imho, killer voice and interesting production for a folk/country album. Will be coming back to this.

Good music as support, and good singing on top. A nice listen.

soft country music, sung in a slow, soothing and emotional way. many tracks almost make you feel sleepy, the somber subject material, melodic harmonies and quiet strings set the scene quite well, with many songs about what it's like growing up in the country. it has a pleasant sound, but it didn't hold my interest for too long. if you like your country and you want something to relax to or listen to on a rainy day, you might like this one, but... yeah, i don't have too much to say for this one. i feel like i might listen to this one again and i might rank it higher.

Easy listening country music to get the day going

honestly pretty dull. it was a lot of the same thing and that wasn’t good enough to keep happening

Country is very hit or miss for me but I like her brand of country a lot.

There are definitely some good ideas on this album, but my god 90% of this is just painfully boring. There are just a handful of tracks that really did stand out to me, and I must say I loved her voice. But unfortunately that doesn't save this album from a low rating.

5/10 Not my piece of cake.

Not very memorable

Warbly

2.5

I just find this album boring, honestly.

Absolutely not.

Country music my dad would listen to

Probably as nice an album from a genre I have no interest (modern country) in, so I can see why it’s here but it’s not made me want to listen to anything else she’s done.

Eh boring

2/5. There is a story within each song that feels like I am at someone's funeral I do not know and listening to these events in their life. It's not necessarily sad, just distant. Unfortunately, that does not help the album. I kind of lose interest about a few songs in and some do stand out, but I don't think they are unique enough to keep me interested. I do enjoy the instrumentation choice with heavy non-country drums and country guitar. I think I would appreciate this one more if I was invested in Emmylou but with my lack of knowledge there, it kind of brings down the experience. That distant feeling again. Not good enough to feel like I need to listen again. Best Song: I Don't Want To Talk About It Now, Bang The Drum Slowly, One Big Love

I know nothing at all about Emmylou Harris but from what I read, this is quite a departure for her in the latter stages of a long career in the country and folk scene. I really, really enjoyed it. What grabbed me first was the wall-of-sound production. In places it sounds more like Eno than Eno (Nod to producer Malcolm Burn here, it seems); combining hypnotic drum machines with rich instrumental layers and then just floats her voice over it all like syrup. And the vocals are just fantastic - she's able to turn her tone from sweet folkiness for the more country moments like the title track to bring a dense, ethereal quality to tracks like Bang The Drum Slowly and Hour Of Gold - huge shades of Massive Attack's Teardrop. Then just for fun, she drapes big power popstar vibes over Michelangelo and One Big Love. I very strongly contemplated giving this a 5, I just think it's one that you have to be in the mood for and while I don't think I always will be, I happen to be in that mood today.

I was pretty bored by the halfway point, and practically asleep by the end. At least she wrote most of these tracks having mostly made her name doing covers. Her voice is nice but there's not much in the music or lyrics that I find interesting at all. Sorry Emmylou

Nice voice, some good songs. But realistically i won’t revisit this one in the future tho.

Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 👱‍♀️📸⬛ Mix: 🧏‍♂️📏💩 Musik: ♱🙅🤢 Wertung: ⛔/5

Not my taste at all.

Not sure if I consider it country, but it was fine.

I hadn’t heard of Emmylou Harris before today, but this album convinced me to do a deep dive. I didn’t like every song, which stops it from being five stars, but the ones that I did nearly brought me to tears. At its best, it commanded my attention. I’m excited to learn more about this artist.

I don't know what to do with some of these albums. The whole day yesterday was bonkers. Did I even listen to this with any kind of attention? Would this have broken through to me on a different day? My main impression was that it sounded like someone told Harris she should update her sound and fully disagree. Nothing really bad here but nothing stuck.

Three things I don't like: a) trip hop beats b) that weird, "I'm-in-a-cave" millennial dissonant feedback that plagues any album trying to get deep c) Emmylou Harris' voice Sucks to be me listening to this album then, aye?

I typically like emmylou Harris. Didn’t think this was the best example of her work.

I'm not a country folk type of person but there is something about Emmylou Harris' voice that is timeless.

Beautiful vox and dreamy instrumentals. Really enjoyable listen. Also a cheeky lil' surprise cameo by Dave Matthews on "My Antonia" (uncredited, interestingly)

Loved every bit.

The Taylor Swift of the AARP set. Heartbreak lyrics, country/pop. She needs to tour with TS: her record sales would soar.

Another one of those classic country artists reborn in late career rebirth albums. Voice/production is good. Just a bit dull.

Lovely and heartfelt throughout but somehow didn't manage to grab me completely.

Love it!

Title track wins but I thought a lot of these songs were gorgeous.

Жанр не для меня. Для меня альбом показался дико скучным

Lasted half way. It's just not needed on the 1,001 albums you need to hear, let's be honest. Inoffensive country (a rarity) but it doesn't particularly lead anywhere interesting. So many better things that should have made this list.

No point and already forgotten

Siistiä alternatiivista countrya. Tosi monipuolista, osa on perinteisempää countrya ja osa sitten kokeellisempaa. Osissa kappaleissa myös alt rock viboja. Parhaat: Michelangelo, Red Dirt Girl, Bang The Drum Slowly

Disappointed, thought for sure it was going to be a 5 for me. 3.5/5

I love Emmylou's voice but this album isn't really that great to me in comparison to some of her other work. I'd honestly give it a 3, but I'm bumping to 4 just because I think she's so talented.

She has a nice voice, but this album is pretty bland and forgettable. Don't feel I was missing out on much.

My Antonia with Dave Matthews is the highlight

Not your usual country music album, but I'm still not a fan.

Red Dirt Girl is a perfect example of when an album (and this list) can feel like a chore. Boring, insincerely trying to rip off that ‘90s Sheryl Crow sound, and wayyyy too long. A couple okay songs, but even then 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

This was a great album, way more modern sound than I was expecting from Emmylou Harris. Her voice is very distinctive and lovely to listen to. The music was lively and fun in places, but somber and serious in others. Good listen, three stars.

I expected much more country music, which I don't like, so this was a bit of a surprise. It's okay as a pop/country-pop album, but still not my thing. Credits for production and the singer's voice.

2 stars

The modern (circa 2000) production, (complete with drum loops and middle easter guitar melodies) gives this album a sound that hasn’t dated too badly in 2024. It sometimes even sounds like one of those chill out electronica compilations from the early 2000s, while the continual religious allusions give me Nick Cave vibes. Overall, while I find ‘Red Dirt Girl’ pensive and downbeat, it’s not an unpleasant listen.

Great voice although not my kinda music.

3.5/10

A bit more atmospheric than what i was expecting from Emmylou, but quite good.

Pretty dull Americana.

scratch my itch, sweet annie rich...

amazing production on this

I've loved the Emmylou and Trio albums I've been given so far on this list, but this album does not scratch that same itch. It's a decades later Emmylou, and much of this album is pretty boring light-country pop that sounds very 2000s without being special. That being said, Hpur of Gold is quite good, and I also liked J'ai fait tout too. Overall though, not sure this deserved to be here.

I like it when it goes French. Favourite track: J'ai fait tout.

I unexpectedly loved this! I expected it to be more country, but I would really call this a folk album and a really well done one, too. Emmylou Harris's voice is just gorgeous and perfectly suited to this kind of music.

More folky than I would have thought, not bad.

What a mid work. Other modern country and folk albums showed how much interesting things one can do with modern production. It's already decent but she could've been more daring.

Kind of boring

It was ok but not something I’d go back to

ok

A very nice voice, calm and comforting. Songs had a country vibe but the drums were like a lofi hip hop drum box or something. Nice

I don't know much Emmylou Harris, I heard some of the tracks she did with Robert Plant and was never a fan. A legend of folk, the only problem is im not a folk fan!! Chilled music, nothing stands out and nothing is horrible. Its a very biege album. Favourite song: Nothing stands out Least favourite: Nothing was horrific Album artwork: A little scary

Emmylou goes alt. A pretty good fit!

2.5

An odd choice, seems like a deep cut - finding an album from very late in her career. Seems like an early album from her hay day in the 70s or 80s should have been included instead, but I really like it. Furthermore, I'm not really a country fan. This sounds more like it could be on an alternative rock list - though it is still quite folksy, and not very country in my estimation.

Country tranquilo. Preciosa voz.

This was fine. I didn't really have any issues with it other than I'm kind of confused why it made this list. It doesn't seem influential or like it was doing anything new or innovative at the time. It's folkish music with a 90s/2000s twist. The songwriting was pretty decent though telling stories.

Emmylou Harris is an American treasure. She's one of those artists that probably could have way bigger, but she just kind of makes music that she likes and collaborates with everyone. Her voice is unique, its low, and she sings in a really non-traditional way. There's definitely world where she would have been a Country Superstar, but she never let Nashville control her. I really like this album. Red Dirt Girl is one of my favorite American / Folk songs. Its powerful, haunting and beautiful. I also really love how she plays with genres and influences with this record. She brings in a lot of Irish Folk lyrics and rhythms, but then also incorporates middle eastern sounds and instruments on some songs. Some songs sound like pure country, while others feel like Norah Jones or Stevie Nicks. She also homages a lot of things in her lyrics, especially in Bang the Drum Slowly. All around beautiful record.

So good

No va

Blind album and artist. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not in the mood for this album or if it's the actual album itself... but it's putting me to sleep and I'm not enjoying it really at all. It's like slow country and it is not my style.

Sleepy mild mannered country-ish album that didn't really stand out to me as significant. Not my personal preference when it comes to music, but this album wasn't bad. It was fine.

This was a nice somber chill album. I enjoyed it.

Pretty good

3.25

could i write poetry to this? n

Should probably be docked down to a one for this line alone: "Everybody do like a monkey If you want to go on and be funky"

Whiny Americana. Wanted the album to finally end.

Malcom Burn production brings Harris into the 21st century. Classic.

Not really my genre, but a pretty good album!

Put off listening to this because I didn’t want to listen to country. This was a very pleasant and album. Didn’t pay too much attention to the lyrics but what I did catch was refreshing to hear apposed to what I normally hear from the genre. That said, not quite my cup of tea. Standouts: Michelangelo, My Baby Needs A Shepherd, J’ai fait tout, and Boy From Tupelo.

It was ok. A lot of religious allusions for me. But I liked the Fleetwood Mac vibe

Well I was not excited when I saw this was a country album, but it is not bad so far. On the second song, Michelangelo . Nothing has struck me, but it's not torture to listen to so far. Red Dirt Girl is the first song I enjoyed. Had a bit too much of religiosity sprinkled in the songs for me overall. It was fine.

Again not super my thing but not bad music by any means

Another album in this list that’s a bit too out of my realm to fully appreciate. I don’t know if there’s some context to this I’m missing but I’m struggling to see how it’s in this list. Whether it’s some sort of seminal album that did something significant to country music? I don’t know. I’ve never heard of Emmylou Harris. I feel like she’s probably an important figure in some way and done something significant but this all just feels a bit too boring for me to be bothered to look into it. I feel like I want it to be one thing or another. Country or rock/pop. Actually I don’t want it to be country - I’m not a fan of country. Maybe that’s the problem? 2.4

Perus laulaja laulunraapija.. 1001 kirjaan.. itsensä kaapina... Ja non insulting mukavan kuullloista musiikkia semmonen tunti..

-I’m not a huge fan of country folk stuff but she has a really nice voice -Sort of reminds me of Enya at some parts, specifically the “exotic” world music influence in some songs -Favorites are The Pearl and J’ai fait tout

good

first listen. Nice but underwhelming

easy enough to listen to , downloaded 2,3,4,5

Emmylou Harris is constantly reinventing herself. Here on Red Dirt Girl she emerges into the elder statesman of Country music, looking back on her history and the history of her genre and where it's going. Good pleasant listen and man has her voice stayed sharp. 3/5.

I can't believe it's not Lanois. Or Rubin. A mid/late career re-animation. Stately, sparse instrumention adding some gentle electronic textures to what's a stripped-back country setup. Lyrics absent of achey breaking and instead full of red dirt, brothers dying in the military, my childhood in the boonies and so on. Going light on the pedal steel and other arrangement cliches of the genre. The tempo is mostly mid, no Shania-type hoedowns, as befits a country matriarch. All told a pretty successful resurrection, if she needed resurrecting. 3.5 but there's a slight lack of variety - perhaps a cover of U2's One or a NIN classic would have sealed the deal of a 4.

Really nice album!

really good country/folk album, I cant point to a particular track but this whole thing just sounded comfortable and "home-y." really great inclusion on the list.

Emmylou Harris has one of my favorite voices in music. This album is gorgeous.

Lovely voice, songs that grabbed me, I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Good

Very bluegrass. Not bad

5.5/10

I think she probably has more classic albums but this also reminds me of that one random late james taylor album that has "copper line" on it where a classic musician just works with more modern production techniques/modern sounds to decent effect. The Pearl has this epic/primal beat that fit with her voice / country sound even if the intro took me off guard. Michelangelo is pretty. I actually hear a lot of what the modern band "big theif" and frontwoman Adrienne Lenker is doing in their music with Emmylou's vibe on this album. May be similar voices as well. One of the most easy listening experiences as in pretty good/better than expected. Also reminds me a bit of Low. Overall a good listen. Bang the drum slowly, tragedy and

3+

..

There's no better voice than Emmylou's, and this is mostly gorgeous, of course, though the lyrics are here and there a bit shaky. The playing and production are on point and entirely tasteful. Wrecking Ball might be a touch better, but it's close and one thinks Emmylou definitely merits mulitple records on this list.

This was ok, didn’t really grip me and I am generally pro country so that’s surprising.

A bit monotonous....

Not quite as gripping as her earlier work, but still very pretty, Worth a listen.

The atmosphere on this record is great, some really lovely songs as well (I love the duet with Dave Matthews) but at times I felt this album was just a bit too slow. As in boring. Some of the bloat being trimmed would have helped a lot

No disrespect to EH, but this is basically a low-risk adult-contemporary softball. Emmylou’s allmusic bio glosses over this release without fanfare, noting only that Bruce Springsteen and several others make appearances. There are no songs that are outright bad enough to merit a two-star review, but you’re definitely not missing anything if you don’t hear this one before you die.

This is Cristian music, right? That only explains part of the reason why it is so pretentious and bland. This is what Britta from Community would listen to of she went to Calvin. The lyrics trick you into thinking there's meaning there, but it's just a stream of conscious nothingness. Can't think of any good lyrics? Just falsetto the fuck out of the song. This is Amy Grant if she grew up in Holland, MI and sucked.

Country album, nothing special about it

Very good

Now heres a very nice album. As soulful as any soul album

This was pretty enjoyable. I respect the effort. Reviews suggest it was not a typical work for her. I did not know the artist previously

I couldn't finish this. It was entirely too slow, boring, and meandering. It might be someone else's cup of tea, but it sure isn't mine.

Like a sort of cheaper Paul Simon? Kind of curious but I'm not sure about her voice. Interesting sounds. But mostly utter tosh.

Nice record, bit Springsteen vibes.

Just another ho-hum country album indistinguishable to me from so many others.