Customer Reviews

Little Sparrow

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Dolly's sequel to her 2000 IBMA Album Of The Year, The Grass Is Blue, bridges the gap between bluegrass and Appalachian folk music, and even includes a few songs with an Irish flavor. Little Sparrow is a stunning blend of these genres and draws material from varied sources, including Dolly's own unparalleled songwriting. "She has proven to be the rarest of figures, a singer and songwriter who became a superstar yet retained the skills and impulses of a serious, seriously driven artist.... An artist of extraordinary skill and astonishing vitality. You must buy this album!

It's no surprise to hear gospel ("The Sweet By and By") on this album, or inspired tributes to Bill Monroe ("Bluer Pastures"), the Louvin Brothers ("Don't Believe You've Met My Baby") or even the Amazing Rhythm Aces ("Beautiful Lie"). Dolly's still on familiar turf with Steve Young's Southern anthem "Seven Bridges Road," a much-covered classic that never reached its bluegrass potential 'til she took it under her wing. And then you come to astonishing bluegrass arrangements of the rock song "Shine," by Collective Soul, and the Cole Porter standard "I Get A Kick Out of You." Oh, and a full-service Irish band, Altan, complete with accordion, bouzouki and whistles.

If Bill Monroe and Cole Porter never met in life, here they meet and get along famously. Somehow, with Dolly in the director's chair, it all flows harmoniously in the same direction, as surely as every river west of the Blue Ridge flows into the Gulf. What she sets out to prove is that there's no good song you can't mountainize, with the right stuff and the right musicians.

Of course, "The Grass Is Blue" was far beyond "okay"! As great as that album is, this album brings Dolly's serious artistry back to an even higher level. My only problem with "The Grass Is Blue" is its lack of cohesiveness. "The Grass Is Blue" feels like a collection of songs more than it does an album. I'm not saying that's a fault, for they're all great songs, but "Little Sparrow" somehow works as a tight, cohesive album. Plus, "Little Sparrow" reaches an emotional depth not found in "The Grass Is Blue". It is such a treat to join Dolly as she comes full circle round, creating what is easily among the greatest work of her career--not to mention some of the greatest country/folk music you can possibly find today.

This album is more than worthy of a 5-star review, and dare I say it is a perfect piece of art. The opening title track is assertive and compelling, while the next track "Shine On" features some terrific fiddle riffs and builds to a driving bluegrass breakdown. "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" is wonderfully updated, as well as the gorgeous "My Blue Tears" (I dare you to not feel her cry of "I'll sit here and cry my lonely blue tears"). "Seven Bridges Road" and "I Get A Kick Out Of You" are further superb reworkings of songs that didn't mean much to me before hearing these wonderful versions. "Bluer Pastures" and "A Tender Lie" are beautiful pieces of songwriting and music. "Marry Me" is a spirited hoedown tune that some listeners might be emabarrassed to love, but love it you will. The last two songs, "The Beautiful Lie" and "In The Sweet By And By" (which segue into one another), add a touch of authentic celtic folk music to the album. Neither of those feature any bluegrass playing; in fact, the lovely "The Beautiful Lie" features only Dolly singing to Stuart Duncan's fiddle. Even the final track, a short instrumental reprise of the title track, is outstanding and essential.

Perhaps my favorite track is the update of Dolly's own "Down From Dover", a classic song about self-deception. This harrowing song traces a delusional young woman's plight as she foolishly awaits the return of the man who impregnated her. It builds to a chilling climax, as she childishly contemplates why her baby was born dead: "I guess in some strange way she knew she'd never have a father's arms to hold her; so dying was her way of telling me he wasn't coming down from Dover". In a similarly themed song (also an update of an older Dolly song), "Mountain Angel", a woman's life is chronicled from her "perfect" childhood to her premature pregnancy, and eventually on to her afterlife legacy of being the fabled witch walking the hills. These songs, along with the others, show that Dolly Parton is easily in or near the upper echelon of American country/folk songwriters. It's just too bad she has that silly late 70s/80s legacy to live down! But, hey, we all go through phases and, if we're lucky, we move on to a higher ground and find ourselves reaching our peak later in life. Dolly is doing that in her 50s, and we are all the more fortunate because of it.

This album is 53 minutes of pure listening bliss. You can't go wrong with this one, believe me. It will be with me forever. Get over Dolly's past image and you're in for a tasty treat.

Wow! This is getting to be a habit -- brilliant new music from Dolly Parton. Little Sparrow is balanced a bit more toward country than "The Grass Is Blue," but is still a great fusion between these closely related genres. The title track is a sad ballad which Dolly wrote about "love 'em & leave 'em" guys. "Shine" with it's lyric "Heaven let your light shine," is essential Dolly. Written by Ed Roland, Jerry Douglas' resophonic guitar and Chris Thiele's mandolin flurry could almost bring heaven down to earth with Dolly's joyful vocal making us feel that we too can touch the sky. There are no weak songs on the CD. "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" is an uptempo country tune with "My Blue Tears" being classic slow country. Dolly's rendition of Steve Young's "Seven Bridges Road" really brings out the beauty of the melody as banjo, guitar and mandolin provide acoustic pyrotechnics. "Bluer Pastures" takes us back to the classic days of country music, as does Dolly's reading of Randy Sharp's "A Tender Lie." One of the great moments is the uptempo bluegrass country version of Cole Porter's "I Get a Kick Out of You." Alison Krause's harmony vocals and Dolly's little chuckle at the end make this utterly charming. Dolly wrtoe "Mountain Angel" which is a great country ballad and the uptempo happy fiddle tune "Marry Me." "Down From Dover" is brought back with a great new treatment here. Mairead NiMaonaighi provides the Irish vocal with Dolly on the hymn "In the Sweet By & By." For the third time in a row counting "Hungry Eyes," Dolly shows she is in a prime period of musical creativity in her career. Don't miss out!

"The Grass is Blue," Parton's previous album surprised a lot of people who only knew of Dolly Parton as a personality rather than a talent. "The Grass is Blue" managed to be two things at once -- a long overdue return to Parton's roots and also the first, full fledged bluegrass album of her 30+ year career.

"Little Sparrow" take the same approach, but takes it a bit further by meshing bluegrass with Celtic music, and in the process shows how the two genres of music are not as far apart as many might assume. It is real, honest, and movingly compelling music. It is not to be missed.

The album mixes song styles -- a pair unusual choices of covers ("Shine" and "I Get A Kick") that works perfectly. A pair of songs from Parton's early days dusted of ("My Blue Tears" and "Down From Dover") interspersed with new originals and outside material. It is all gorgeously played by some of the best musicians in the business and, of course, beautifully sung. If "Little Sparrow" does not end up as one of the best albums of 2001, it is going to be one amazing year for music.

I purchased this cd at the weekend and played it yesterday which was a public holiday in Australia. I noticed that my neighbours from both sides came out into their back-yards to have a listen on the quiet. They stood there motionless, drawn to this beautiful music.

Like most people, I assumed Dolly Parton only sang "Jolene" type songs. Didn't even know she wrote songs. Somebody mentioned this cd to me about 18 months ago and advised that you wouldn't believe it was Dolly Parton. For some reason I kept this advice in the back of my mind and only now have chosen to buy it out of all the other cd's I could have purchased. Is that a sign?

You will not be disappointed if you purchase this cd. It is superb in every aspect; songs, arrangements, lyrics, musicians and production.

On this album, the follow-up to The grass is blue, Dolly explores her musical roots further. While still essentially a bluegrass album, there are other influences here. Mountain music with a modern edge would be a more accurate description.

Dolly wrote some new songs for the album - Little sparrow, Bluer pastures, Mountain Angel and Marry me - and recorded covers of Seven Bridges Road (Eagles), Shine (Collective soul), I get a kick out of you (the often-covered Cole Porter classic), I don't believe you've met my baby (a Louvin Brothers song that Dolly previously recorded as a duet with Porter Wagoner, and which has been covered by many country singers, including Alison Krauss), A tender lie (Restless heart), In the sweet by and by and two songs she wrote and first recorded in the early seventies (Down from Dover and My blue tears).

As you will see from the originals Dolly covered, the songs are from widely different sources but all have been adapted to fit the style of the album. There is an old saying that a good song can be adapted to fit any style, and Dolly proves it, especially with her version of I get a kick out of you, which sounds very different from any previous recording of this song.

This is a wonderful album, in keeping with the standard Dolly has set since her return to a more traditional sound, beginning with Hungry again, continuing with Grass is blue, this album and Halos and horns. In terms of quality, there really isn't much to choose between all four and I can well understand those who think this is the best of the lot.

I can't even begin to tell you how long I have been waiting for Dolly Parton to get over her Hollywood and pop phase and get back to making real country music -- the kind that first brought her to prominence to begin with.

For many, Parton is little more than a giggly Barbie doll, or the reincarnation of Mae West -- a woman long on personality and short on genuine talent. Those of us who remember the type of songs she wrote and recorded before 1977's pop sellout "Here You Come Again" have had a difficult time convincing others that this woman was smart, and talented. Parton's last album, the indispensable "The Grass is Blue" was most welcome as it brought Dolly, and her older fans, back from the wilderness, and it was a real eye (and ear) opener for many who knew little of Dolly other than what they saw on the headlines of the tabloids in the supermarket checkout.

"Little Sparrow" continues in the same manner as "The Grass is Blue," but adds a few twists. The same bluegrass underpinnings are there, but added into the mix are some Celtic touches that help to give the album a folkier fell, and one that is more reminiscent of traditional mountain music that ultimately paved the way for both bluegrass and country.

If you loved "The Grass is Blue" you won't be disappointed with "Little Sparrow." If you have neither, you need to correct this oversight ASAP.

The sparrow may be little, but my god, she soars like an eagle! Dolly does it again, in this her second album of bluegrass recordings. I even think that this surpasses "The Grass is Blue" as far as sheer brilliance and scope. Dolly wisely dips into traditional Irish folk music which is the basis for all bluegrass and will tear your heart out with "Down From Dover". I never would have thought that Cole Porter could be converted to bluegrass, I guess I have been proven wrong. "I Get a Kick Out of You" is possibly the most bouyant track on this CD. I laughed till I cried the first time I heard "Marry Me", with the final line of "he done kissed me on the mouth so he's gotta marry me".

All of the artists that appear on this CD have done an icredible job as always. Jerry Douglas on dobro, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Alison Krauss, Claire Lynch, Maura O'Connel, Altan....Who could ask for any better. If you are a fan of bluegrass, then you must buy this CD. I'll go ahead and nominate it for best bluegrass recording right now!!

Dolly Parton obviously enjoyed the taste of success she received with 1999's THE GRASS IS BLUE album, because shortly after it was released, came LITTLE SPARROW, an album that built on that bluegrass sound, and expanded. There's a lot of variety. She manages to pay tribute to a few artists, namely Bill Monroe (Bluer Pastures), the Amazing Rhythm Aces (Beautiful Lie), Steve Young (Seven Bridges Road), Cole Porter (I Get A Kick Out Of You) and the Louvin Brothers (I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby). She also puts her stamp on Collective Soul's "Shine", which was the album's first single. This is an amazing album, start to finish. She updates her classic ballad "My Blue Tears" with a bluegrass arrangement. There is a bit of gospel (In The Sweet By And By) and much more. "Mountain Angel" and "Down From Dover" (another old Dolly classic) are so heartbreaking, she vividly tells stories in these songs. Another favorite of mine is the ballad "A Tender Lie", which is just amazing. I really can't say enough about this amazing piece of music, except if you don't have it, get it!

Every song is good!! If you're like me, you've never bought a Dolly Parton album until this one. I heard the title cut one day and it blew me away. I always remembered the Dolly with the big hair and the cutsie 1980's radio songs. Stop right there. This isn't that Dolly. This is MUSIC, plain and simple. Blue grass, Celtic, Country, roots...all rolled into one blissful musical journey. You'll love this one. One of the best albums of the year.