Customer Reviews

Mountain Soul

5 star:		(99)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Patty Loveless has chosen to ignore what is radio friendly and return to the music she does best. The result is the spectacular "Mountain Music." It is one of the truest country music releases of the year and a very personal one, dedicated to both her mother and father. Recent releases from Dolly Parton "Little Sparrow", and Loretta Lynn "Still Country", attest to the fact that there is an audience that is hungry for Appalachian mountain music. It would be a real feat if any of these tunes were to become top ten hits in today's country atmosphere. That is not to say that they do not deserve the status. Loveless has crafted a nearly perfect collection of songs that give the listener a sense of what it must have been like to enjoy mountain music in a simpler time. Beginning with the rousing number "The Boys are Back in Town" and the two stand out gospel songs "Daniel Prayed" and "Rise Up Lazarus", this set is simply a joy to experience. Patty's voice has never sounded better, and her haunting rendition of "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" (also recorded this year by Brad Paisley), is one you will not forget. Notable duets with Travis Tritt, "I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still)," and "Out of Control Raging Fire" are the year's best collaborative efforts. If you are a fan of one of the best voices in real country music, you better not miss this outstanding effort.

Modern day Country Divas with their emphasis on style over substance could stand to learn a thing or two from Patty Loveless who's simple demeanor and honest strait forward singing have made her one of the last true Country Singers. On past CD's Loveless's true rootsy soul has often been hidden under a slick veneer of Nashville Country Programming. On this CD, her traditional Country leanings have been given free rein and unlike many of her contemporaries, who's cookie cutter voices sound like cotton candy, Loveless sings with a broken heart that pumps real blood.

Although billed as an album of "Mountain Music", Mountain Soul also emerges as a truly genuine country album mining both the gospel and bluegrass influences that made so much of the early Country Music so soulful. Many of the songs on this CD have the feel and sound of old standards. "Rise Up Lazarus", a song co-written by Loveless and Emory Gordy Jr. is just such an example as is Loveless's rendition of Ralph Stanley's "Daniel Prayed" - both of these songs have the feeling of an afternoon in a Sunday morning gospel tent revival meeting.

On other songs such as Leslie Satcher and Tommy Conner's gracefully sad "Sorrowful Angels" and Darrell Scott's "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" Loveless pushes the traditional Country envelope wider bringing in elements of folk music into an otherwise traditional country mix. "The Richest Fool Alive" is a song that could have been written back in the days when Country Music had names like Hank Williams or Buck Owens and cowboy hats still had sweat on the hatband. "Out of Control Raging Fire" with its line, "Pain has no memory when you burn with desire" represents the kind of songwriting you just don't find on today's saccharine infused Country/Pop charts - and on this track Loveless's barn burning duet with Travis Tritt shows what real Country Music could be like if Nashville wasn't so afraid of getting its hands dirty.

The effort that went into this disk is clearly a work of the heart - the CD's packaging contains numerous family pictures with notes lovingly written by Loveless. If true Country music brings us closer to who we are Loveless's CD will surely stand out as one of the more genuine Country Music releases of the year and for lovers of Country Music a welcome respite from all of the glitter and hype Nashville passes off as Country Music in this day and age.

Ms. Loveless doesn't offer us this CD as an hommage to old school country or traditional bluegrass and gospel, rather, she presents us with this wonderful album as if it's the only music known to mankind, and she sings it from the bottom of her soul ! A superb mix of the above mentioned genres, without a misstep on the entire CD. It has been a long, long while since I have enjoyed every single song on a country album, but this one cured that problem. The more I listen to it, the better it gets. Like I stated, every song is great, but, beginning with song ten and ending with song 14, Patty offers us a suite of music that is truly some of the most beautiful and haunting songs ever captured. Her remake of her own song, Sounds of Loneliness, will give you goosebumps, as will, You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. Where is all the promotion for this stunning collection of songs ? I happened to see a review in Spin Magazine (of all places !) and they gave it 9 out of 10, which is an impressive feat. If this glorious album doesn't win best country album of the year, then I will lose what little faith I have left in this dreadful countrypolitan scene. This is THE album Patty has hinted at on her previous ten albums and it's truly the jewel in her crown. My hat is off and I take a deep bow to Ms. Loveless for a job extremely well done. If this album isn't in your country collection, then it should be !

Loveless has shown her mountain roots before, usually on cuts that make her albums deeper than a collection of singles. But never before has she so completely surrendered herself to the music of her Kentucky childhood. Much like Dolly Parton's "Hungry Again," Loveless has stripped away her country music stardom (something that wasn't particularly artificial in the first place) and left herself to fully explore the bluegrass-inflected acoustic music of the hills. The result is as stupendous as Parton's was, giving full voice to the mountain soul behind all her previous music.

As always, husband and producer Emory Gordy Jr. is a vital element, helping Loveless pick (and write) songs from bluegrass, mountain, country and inspirational veins. His light hand lets the musicians contribute, but keeps the focus on Loveless' extraordinary outpouring of emotional vocals. Covers of classics by Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner ("Someone I Used to Know") and the Stanley Brothers ("Daniel Prayed") stand unified with tunes penned by Gordy, Loveless, and Darrell Scott's incredible "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive."

Guest appearances from Ricky Skaggs, Earl Scruggs, Travis Tritt and Jon Randall augment the brilliant playing of the band. Similar to Parton's "Hungry Again," the players really gel under her leadership. There's a sense of music, of *band*, that's missing from the antisceptic multitrack recordings so common to major-label productions.

Whether or not radio can find room for this LP, Loveless' fans, and countless bluegrass and mountain fans, will make a home for it. And *that* is what really counts.

This is one of Patty's best albums, along with 1997's Long Stretch of Lonesome. Hopefully with this album, we will find more albums like this from Patty, because this is easily one of the best country albums to come out this year. And hopefully, other country divas like Shania Twain and other pop crossovers will take notice and take notes from this album and learn a thing or two. Mountain Soul borrows elements of bluegrass, mountain music, traditional country, soul and gospel, all mixed into one. Patty's voice has improved with age like a fine wine, and there isn't a filler track to be found anywhere on here. The standout on the album for me is the beautifully sung and written "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive", easily one of the best tracks here. "Sounds of Loneliness" is a nice song with a touch of celtic in it, she sounds wonderful. The album is very similar (not a bad thing) to Dolly Parton's latest album Little Sparrow, as they both are in the same vein musically. Coincidently, she does an excellent job covering Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner's hit Someone I Used To Know, a duet she does with Jon Randall. There are also two duets with Travis Tritt, and they compliment each other well vocally. Overall this is a must have album, easily one of the best albums released this year. Give it a try, if youre tired of the cookie cutter sound f country music these days, you'll be pleasantly surprised and entertained. Its a shame radio ignores her, this is pure quality.

Patty Loveless returns to the music of her youth, the songs of coal miners in Eastern Kentucky. This is the album she was born to make. She and producer/husband Emory Gordy, Jr. stripped away the pop veneer of her previous albums and captured the authentic soul of these songs. Most of the songs are great old songs from Patty's past, growing up as a coal miner's daughter. She mines gems from Ralph Stanley, Jack Clement, Don Reno, and others. Of the new material, "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" is a standout. It deserves to be a hit, but it may be "too country" for radio. Other highlights include "Cheap Whiskey", written by Emory Gordy, Jr. and Jim Rushing. Martina McBride recorded a version of this song on her first album. Patty captures the raw essence of this painful ballad. The great traditional mountain gospel song, "Two Coats" was previously recorded by Patty for the soundtrack of "The Apostle". The final track is a beautiful song Patty wrote back in 1972, "Sounds of Lonliness". Emory Gordy, Jr. has long been a masterful producer. This album showcases his ability to capture the pure sounds of accoustic instrumentation. The musicians and vocalists on this release are a "who's who" of contemporary mountain music: Travis Tritt, Ricky Skaggs, Jon Randall, Stuart Duncan, Jeff White, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Tim Hensley, Carmella Ramsey, and others. It is encouraging to see a major label, Epic, release such a traditional album. Because of her hits Patty earned the right to make this one from her heart.

At a time when female (and male) country singers have abandoned ship in droves to sing pop music, it is a sheer joy to hear Patty Loveless go back to her music roots on "Mountain Soul".
My wife and I were on vacation in Colorado in June, and saw Patty in concert just before this album was released. After a great performance of songs from her previous records, she stopped and talked about her new project, then gathered members of the band around the mike and launched into "The Boys Are Back In Town" etc. - it was a stunning experience - and so is the the CD!
Standout tracks: "Daniel Prayed" - with wonderful interwoven vocals by Carmella Ramsey & Ricky Skaggs, "Someone I Used To Know" - duet with John Randall, "Out of Control Raging Fire" - duet with Travis Tritt, "Cheap Whiskey", "Soul Of Constant Sorrow", "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" and "Sounds Of Loneliness".
"Mountain Soul" is without doubt one of the Essential Country releases of 2001!

You want music so good it makes your gut hurt? Tired of the POPularized pablum that is called country music these days? In "Mountain Soul" Patty Loveless has reached into her roots and given us a 14 cut album of Bluegrass, Gospel, stone country and all soul! Patty's vocals are nothing short of phenominal, the vocal harmonies by Carmella Ramsey and Tim Hensley are crisp and clean, and add in Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt (yes I said Travis Tritt) and Rebecca Lynn Howard, it just doesn't get any better. The musicians: How about Earl Scruggs on Banjo, Tater Tate on bass and and bass vocals. Deanie Richardson just crushes the fiddle breaks and the twin fiddle by Deanie and Stuart Duncan are to die for. You are gonna grin, clog a little and cry a lot. Pay attention, Nashville, if it don't sound like this, it ain't country, Bluegrass or Gospel. This album is the Benchmark that country music will be compared to. And I guarantee, it will fall short of this masterpiece.

Every artist has an album they were destined to make. For Pink Floyd it was "The Wall", for Bruce Springstein it was "Born in the USA". For Patty Loveless it is "Mountain Soul." The most thoughtful and artistic collection of music by a country music artist released this century. Singing in a style that is true to her Eastern Kentucky roots, Loveless covers everything from Gospel to traditional country to bluegrass weepers.

Loveless has always had a voice that resonated pain and heartbreak. On this album she has, however, outdone herself. The gospel songs exhillerate, the ballads weep. On the outstanding "Sorrowful Angels", a story song of unrequited love, Loveless' voice, like an overripe melon, explodes with sensuality and heartbreak. "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive", an old style warning song of the dangers of coal mining, has the conviction that only a real coal minor's daughter can bring (yes, Patty, like cousin Loretta Lynn, is the "other" coal minor's daughter. She, like Lynn, lost her father to black lung in 1979).

After a string of Nashville styled, radio friendly albums, Loveless has so perfectly captured the spirit and emotion of a region, you will end up hoping that this album is not a lark or a novelty project, but the beginning of a new phase in this brilliant singers career.

Closing with "Sounds of Lonliness," a song written when she was 14, Loveless seals the deal. If ever there was an heir apparent to Tammy Wynette's title "The Queen of Heartbreak" than it is Loveless.

Patty Loveless has released what I think is her best piece of material yet. The album is an all-bluegrass collection that shows off her "Mountain Soul" more than any other yet. Her notes at the beginning of "Rise Up Lazarus" will simply put,give you chills! The harmonies on the CD from Jon Randall,Ricky Skaggs,Vince Gill are amazing....and for all the talk about the possiblity of Patty and Vince recording a duet album together....I agree it would be great...but one listen to "An Out Of Control Raging Fire" will make you want more of Patty Loveless and Travis Tritt together...As a radio programmer who respects the traditional style of Country....I can wholeheartedly say that every radio station that calls themselves Country should be playing this...but since they probably won't....you need to buy it!