Customer Reviews

Mountain Soul II

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Take a vocalist at the height of her prowess, remove the need to play to the mainstream, let her loose in the genre she's most comfortable in, surround her with the best Appalachian bluegrass musicians, let the man who loves her the most produce and protect her and give her 15 musical gems to sing. Provide absolutely flawless arrangements, production and engineering and you have the recipe for Patty Loveless' new CD "Mountain Soul II." The result is just a stunningly beautiful recording that is easily one of 2009's best of all genres.

Every cut is a delight, compelling, pure, sometimes heartbreakingly sad but always anchored by Patty's outstanding vocals. She has been wonderful for decades and with "Mountain Soul II" takes it to another level. Not a weak cut here but if I had to list my favorites they would be "A Handful Of Dust," "When The Last Curtain Falls," "The Bramble And The Rose," "Busted" and "A Prisoner's Tears." My apologies to the other songs because I could have selected any of them as well.

A true artist at the top of her craft, Patty Loveless delivers a tour de force that is of such quality that while not aimed at the mainstream will undoubtedly make inroads there. Real people reecognize the real thing when they hear it.

P.S. Here's a recommendation - a duet CD with Patty Loveless and Allison Kraus. Now wouldn't that be a treat.

Mr. Dorfman has said it much more eloquently than I, but let me add my $.02. I've been listening to and playing country music for 50 years and this is the first time I've been able to say this about any album, it's perfect! I've always been a Patty Loveless fan but her last three albums have been just stunning. Mountain Soul II is the best of the bunch. Patty is the most soulful and versitile female country singer to have ever walked the planet. Sorry Patsy, Loretta and Tammy but it's true. She has matured into a singer who has no equal. Her name belongs up there with Jones, Haggard, Cline and dare I say, Williams Sr. I know I sound like a kid gushing over the latest pop wonder but I'm an old guy with lots of miles on my odometer and lots of listening experience so what I've said here is heart felt. My hope is that some of the current crop of country performers (male and female) will listen to and learn from her.

For fans of "Real" Country music, please read on. For those of you who feel that what is shoved down your throats on the so-called Country music stations is "Country" music, you can stop here. I don't want to waste your time.

Patty has been around for awile now, considered by many to be one of the old guard, so to speak. She has come to a point of her career obviously, that she doesn't really care if the radio stations play her music or not(not that it doesn't hurt her inside, I'm sure), but is simply proud that she can still satisfy her core fan base and hold on to her integrity. She absolutely does that with Mountain Soul II. This is an album of epic proportions -a work of art. For those of you who still love good ole' "real" Country music, don't hesitate for one day to purchase this gem. A few years ago Patty chose to go back to her roots and record "Mountain Soul" which received fantastic critical acclaim, but of course was missed by radio(deliberately), in my opinion. All country radio wants to play today is what I refer to as washed over Southern Rock N' Roll, and I loved Southern Rock, but not when I want to hear Country music. There are some of the current million unit selling artists that you can't even understand when they "sing?".

I'm not going to review each and every song as some reviewers like to do. I feel that way of doing things many times becomes boring. I will tell you that the opening cut, "Busted", the great Harlan Howard song blows the doors off of anything being played on the country stations today(save for George Strait and Alan Jackson). Patty even went so far as going back to some of the original coal mining lyrics of this song, which have been changed by some artists, probably due mostly because her late Father was a coal miner. I should mention that the album is done mainly in a Bluegrass style because Patty has re-done a few songs from earlier in her career in a Bluegrass style, which gives the songs a whole different feel, fresher if it may be said.

With that said, Patty is still the Queen of "Real" Country music. So, if that's what you want to hear, don't cheat yourself. If that's not what you want to hear, you may want to pass. But, I would suggest to those naysayers out there, buy it and listen, because you may find that you've really been missing something that is fading away with today's "Country" artists. Thanks alot!

This is an absolutely wonderful recording, and a worthy follow up to the earlier "Mountain Soul".

I've listened to this CD many times in the past ten days, and gave another listen to the original Mountain Soul, and it is startling how well "Two" follows the original. The level of musicianship, the sparkling production, and of course her vocals are all first rate, all executed with subtlety, precision and soul. Patty and her crew are all seasoned pros, and they make it all sound SO easy.

I understand that like her last album, "Sleepless Nights", all of this (with the probable exception of "Diamonds in My Crown", which lists a different studio for Emmylou Harris' vocal) was recorded 'live', in real time, in the studio, with all musicians playing together, rather than having some players appearing on tracks added later. As always, production duties are handled by Patty's husband and long time collaborator, Emory Gordy Jr, who also plays acoustic guitar on some songs, bass on others, in addition to lending his considerable talents as composer and arranger. Emory has an exceptional musical history himself, having recorded and toured with Elvis, was a member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band for many years, and in the early 70's worked many studio dates in LA with members of the Wrecking Crew.

Probably the most interesting (to me) of the sacred songs on the current offering is the traditional "(We are all) Children of Abraham", based on the Old Testament narrative and powerfully sung a capella by Patty and the Burnt Hickory Primitive Baptist Congregation. Primitive Baptists are a small old order sect that split from mainline Baptists around 175 years ago, and strong congregational singing with no accompaniment is integral to their services. The recording of this song sounds so real, so raw, and so pure, you just have to hear it. I doubt I've heard anything quite like it before.

This recording also includes a song composed by Jim Rushing and Patty's husband Emory, "When the Last Curtain Falls". The two also co-wrote "Cheap Whiskey" ("The smell of cheap whiskey and the sound of goodbye") included in the last Mountain Soul album, and by now recorded by many others.

Fifteen finely crafted songs on this CD, all sung by the best.

I see that Amazon.com dropped the price below $10.00, and currently it is listed Number One in sales in three of the company's country music categories.

Right now is a great time to see and hear Patty Loveless perform live in small, intimate venues. It's been a number of years since commercial country radio playlists had her singles in tight rotation, and I imagine that back then, she played to much larger houses. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and don't see any tour scheduled for this area on her web site, so at the end of this month I hope to see her performance in either Maryland or Virginia, or perhaps both. If this record gets huge, I may not have that opportunity again.

First you should know that I am an enthusiastic Patty Loveless fan. Her voice is so suited to country and bluegrass. I rate her as an equal with Alison Krauss as a vocalist. Loved Mountain Soul I. I adore her bluegrass Christmas album. I buy about 4 CDs a year and I bought this the same day I heard about it. Put it in the CD player and listened to busted and thought "What a great start! This album will just get better and better!" But, it didn't. I'll just say that I only transferred one song over to my iPod. ("Busted") Why is it so disappointing? Song choice is the main thing. Patty does do a great up-tempo song and the balance of the album is all slow songs. She does them well usually, not so much here. Production of this album seemed occasionally shrill. Vocal histronics. Patty's voice always moves a lot, it's part of her charm, really. But sometimes when I listened to this, I was reminded of over-done R&B songs, or a painful over-sung version of the national anthem at a sporting event.
It is not horrible. Patty can indeed sing these songs. The musicianship is top notch, although it does not sparkle with energy as a great bluegrass record does. It is well produced despite my comment about shrillness, which is a subjective view. But still, I feel like I threw away $15 this time. I will give Ms. Patty a pass, knowing what she is capable of, but I hope Mountain Soul III gives us the up-tempo tunes that this this disc lacks.

Prime Cuts: Big Chance, You Burned the Bridge, Half Over You

Sequels seldom measure up to their predecessors. The more an artist tries to replicate its initial lightning-in-a-bottle moment, the more elusive and artificial it becomes. Fortunately Loveless does not try to create another clone of her critically acclaimed "Mountain Soul" CD from 2001. Although "Mountain Soul II" follows in the same direction paved by its predecessor (of bluegrass, old-fashioned country and Southern Gospel) this second instalment branches into new territories. Rather than just resurrecting a host of tunes from the songbook of yore, this time round Loveless re-records some of her own earlier album cuts as well as a few originals from Loveless and her hubby cum producer Emory Gordy Jr.. Nevertheless, regardless of the songs' genesis, what's most endearing about this disc is Loveless stark and emotionally drenched alto that has so much overtones of rural lonesomeness. Such by itself is an endangered commodity almost non-existent in today's country music.

Resonating so much with Loveless' own life growing up in the hills of East Kentucky, Harlan Howard's "Busted" is still one of the most affecting pieces of social commentary which tells of a coalmine that no longer provides for its community. In these times of economic recession, "Busted" has shades of new meaning for our society today. Of the 5 tracks first appeared on Loveless' catalog, Tony Arata's "Handful of Dust" is still one of the songs that really strikes at the heart. A solemn reminder of the transient nature of life, "Handful of Dust" deserves to be reprised. While the original version of Paul Kennerley's "Blue Memories" has a rockfish defiant feel, giving this new version a bluegrass treatment almost turns it into another song--one drenched with forlorn regret. Karen Staley's "Half Over You" is the perfect vehicle to bring out Loveless' striking lonesome wails over its plaintive steel guitar licks. "Big Chance," a track from Loveless' 2005 underrated "Dreaming My Dreams," with its jubilant mandolin and fiddle riffs makes you want to dance over this romantic tune of love leading towards marriage.

Of the newer cuts, Jon Randall's "You Burned the Bridge" is easily a future Loveless classic. A brooding ballad of love that has reached a dead end, "You Burned the Bridge" is a poignant song that is rich with lyrical gems made even more beautiful with Loveless' heart grabbing rendering. "Fools Thin Air," coming from the pens of Rodney Crowell and Suzanna Clark, also makes an impression with its unusual chord changes as well as its emotionally evocative lyrics calling to mind Loveless' former album cut "Born Again Fool." Another departure for Loveless is that she's secure enough as a vocalist now to sing a capella on a traditional gospel number "Friends in Glory." Though Vince Gill and Rebecca Lynn Howard join Loveless vocally, it's more for those who have an acquired taste for old fashioned Gospel numbers sung in its bare minimum. The same goes with the newly crafted "Children of Abraham."

Much better as far as Southern Gospel is concerned is Paul Kennerley and Emmylou Harris' "Diamond in My Crown," a moving and appropriate way to end the CD on a note of hope. Overall, "Mountain Soul II" trumps over the initial volume for the mere fact that this is more encompassing of older as well as newer stuff. Also, Loveless' re-take of some of her older album cuts are a plus as they are all well chosen. The mountains have never been more alive with the sound of such soulful singing .

Patty Loveless picks up where she left off with the first Mountain Soul CD. The high lonesome sound of harmonies and old time acoustic instruments.
With the help of Nashville's finest "A" call studio artists like Del and Ronnie McCoury, Bryan Sutton, her husband on bass, Emory Gordy Jr, (also ; Producer), Rob Ickes, Al Perkins; Loveless sings a set of timeless songs with a real live feel and a heart full of emotion.
"Busted" (Harlan Howard) is the opener, an upbeat song about getting the axe, she sings with a joyful heart.
"Half Over You" (Karen Staley) is a classic slow heart breaker, "No place is so lonely as bein' half over you". This is a killer some great steel by Al Perkins.
"Prisoner's Tears" (Henderson,Irwin, Wilson) - Another heart melter about being in jail with analogies of other types of sentences. More hot steel by Al Perkins and Dobro by Ickes, love the thumpin' bass by Mike Bab. What a great melody and bunch of hooks this song has.
This music gets in you, Loveless seems a lot happier in her delivery on this Cd than in some time. "Working On A Building" (tra, gospel) Great acoustic song with help by the McCourys on vocals. More strong mountain soul.
"Friends In Gloryland", accapello, with Vince Gill and Rebecca Lynn Howard.
"Children Of Abraham" (Loveless, Gordy) accapello, with the Baptist Hickory Primitive Baptist Congregation. Great lyrics on this song.
"Big Chance" is an acoustic country song that has some awesome pickin' and just takes off into another world, very bluegrassy, uptempo, with some rippin' fiddle performed by Stuart Duncan and Deanie Richardson on twin fiddle.
OK, one more, "When The Last Curtain Falls" (Gordy, Rushing) This is a slow heartbreak song with some of the best harmonies and dobro here.
Loveless's vocals sound fresher than the mountain rain. This is one of the best recordings she has done, a total of fifteen songs. I can not think of a lady who can sing Mountain soul better than this is, I mean, we have the whole package of great vocal harmonies, great material and some of the best pickin' and fiddlin that you will ever hear. Loveless is in a real groove on this album and the recording is just plain delightful.

Release 9/09
[...]

As I first listened to this CD. I thought it sounded like Emmy Lou Harris. And I see on the album, that Emmy Lou is guest vocal on the CD, plus Patty sings a couple of Emmy's songs:"Blue Memories" and "Diamnond in MY Crown". This is one of the best songs on the album. I have big fan of Patty Loveless since the beginning. This is has to be considered on of the best albums that she has made. And this is good traditional country music.

Her voice raises the hairs on ones neck and together with Del McCoury they are the King & Queen of the "high lonesome" sound. A sequel that is better than the original.

Patty Loveless voice is perfect, but I thought the song choices were terrible. I liked about two of the songs. She needs to stick with BlueGrass, her voice is absolutely perfect. Patty Loveless is my favorite singer; I was really disappointed in this CD-she needs to have Ralph Stanley make her song choices and produce her CD's....now Ralph can pick songs!!!