Customer Reviews

Rhinestoned

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3 star:		(1)
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Playing Time - 44:52 -- Born in 1957, the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis first appeared at the Ryman Auditorium when she was just eight years old. Now she's on the list of top female country singers of all time. Drawing material from many influences, Pam's always been known for incorporating pop, rock, bluegrass, folk and other influences into her country. For example, acoustic stringsters like Bryan Sutton, Sam Bush, Aubrey Haynie, Steven Sheehan and Jonathan Yudkin add a few tasty bluegrass flavorings to the mix that primarily emphasizes electric guitar, bass, piano, organ and drums. Pam's own composition, "Life Has Sure Changed Us Around" is a tongue-in-cheek statement sung with John Anderson in one of the more acoustic arrangements.

For a Texas rockabilly beat with some understated banjo, John Armenti's "Down by the Water" is just the ticket. Jim Hoke's clarinet and harmonica impart an old-time jazz sensibility to "Crazy By Myself." The talking blues storyline of "Bettin' Money on Love" evolves into a cautionary tale about taking chances, making choices, winding up hurting, and spending a little fortune on love. Anyone who's ever played or partied in the country honky-tonks will be able to relate to the story of Red, Louise and Tommy in "Band in the Window." Drawn to trouble and courting disaster, Pam's own self-penned "The Hard Way" is an expressive statement as she sings "I love to play with matches `tho I have to walk through fire." Bluegrass and Celtic instrumental flavorings of banjo, mandolin and pennywhistle close the set in "Over My Head."

It's been a few years since Pam released her "Thunder and Roses" and "It's All Relative" projects. "Rhinestoned" is a thoughtful and eclectic set of well-arranged songs that beats with the rhythm of her country heart and tender soul. Her traditional sensitivity comes through front and center. The result is a creative and impressionable set of reality music. It's refreshing to hear songs arranged, with stellar musicianship, around vibrant, colorful and sincere messages and stories. Right on, Pam! (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

The voice has matured like a classic wine and from the opening bars of "Something Burning Out" it captures the ear and the emotion. Tilli takes us on a journey through the powerful "Train without a Whistle", the out there "Crazy by Myself" and her own "The Hard Way". Unlike a classic wine you can consume more and more of this CD without getting a hangover!

I've always been a big Pam Tillis fan. Her voice is one of the most unique in Country Music, and she sure knows how to sell a song. She's outdone herself here. This may be one of her best albums ever. She's singing better than ever, and she makes you believe every word. "Train Without A Whistle" and "Someone Somewhere Tonight" will break your heart. "Bettin' Money on Love" and "Crazy By Myself" will have you grinning. And the duet wih John Anderson, "Life Sure Has Changed Us Around" is a classic. Kudos to the musicians, as well. There's some great playing on this album. It's all just wonderfully done. If you like Country Music, you owe it to yourself to check out "Rhinestoned". It's the real deal.

Immediately, we get a drop-dead gorgeous ballad, "Something Burning Out." No stopping Pam Tillis, whose just shown us with her last album, IT'S ALL RELATIVE, the tribute to father Mel, that this artist is not nearly ready to be written off. Like the previous one, RHINESTONED is a superb country record with lots of heart and varied rhythms, styles and even genres. The duet with John Anderson is lots of fun, and they're great together. My favorite has shaken out to be "Down By The Water," a fast and catchy folk/rock song. Pam has succeeded again at telling great stories, and singing with a clearly engaged voice. We believe every word. In songs like "Train Without A Whistle," "Crazy By Myself" and "Bettin' Money On Our Love," we get vividly etched portraits of people and the singer herself. The playing on this album is just about perfect throughout. Other reviewers have given the details, but my conclusion is that Pam Tillis continues to be a valuable force in country music who doesn't need to be packaged or pitch-corrected. This woman can sing, but she's not a showoff. In another singer's hands, Pam's own "The Hard Way" might have been histrionic or maudlin. Instead, entirely due to Pam's relaxed phrasing and straightforward singing, this song is poignantly beautiful; Tillis has never sounded better, but she lets everyone shine, one sign of a seasoned artist at the top of her game, free to do whatever she wants to do, and welcoming everyone along for the ride. As a songwriter, Pam Tillis holds her own with the other writers whose songs she's chosen. Rhinestoned? No, these are polished gems.

Pam Tillis is the real deal. She is a living legend and in my opinion one of the most important and talented female artists in country music. Tillis doesn't make records in hopes of just being played on the radio, she makes records that mean something to her and to her fans. You will not be disappointed with the album. Nashville needs to open it's ears to this and not all the junk that is being played on country radio. This is one of Pam's best records ever!

When I first heard Pam Tillis was releasing a new album I was excited. I am not what you would call a major fan. I have only grown to like her stuff the last few years. With Rhinestoned Pam shows that she can choose and sing songs that most artists would not dare to even touch. You feel as if she has lived every song and emotion of this album. It is a must have for any music lover.

Got this new Pam Tillis CD this weekend and have had a difficult time turning it off.It's not like there are a lot of radio-type hits on it(But I dont think that's where Pam was coming from on this album anyway).It's just incredibly well sung,incredibly well played,incredibly well produced and mastered good ol'country songs.When you finish listening,it's like you've enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner with a nice key lime for dessert.Very satisfying listen.Problem is with "Rhinestoned", you're soon hungry to listen to it again!As usual,the personality in Pam's singing is unrivaled (Tell me someone else in Nashville today who can bring it to the table like she does on "Bettin' Money On Love" and "Crazy By Myself").The ballads like "Something Burning Out" and "Train Without A Whistle" are quite affecting and so beautifully arranged,you will be swooning in a dreamlike state with your eyes closed.This woman is at the top of her game after all these years and I,for one,am thankful that folks like Pam,Vince Gill,Allison Krauss and a selective few others in Nashville actually still care about putting out amazing CDs that not only deliver the goods artistically, but also warm and delight your ears from a sonic perspective.Best album I've heard this year in terms of it's listenabilty.Gary and Dana--NYC

I absolutely love this record and can't quit listening to it! Pam's voice is an incredible instrument and she's singing better than ever~and I love her choice of material-country soul is what I think of-each song tells a story and she brings such depth of feeling to the sad ones, and such fun and joy to songs like "Band in the Window" ~what a gift!

Pam gets better as time goes by. I love her voice and her music. You'll love this collection!

This is one of the best coralation albums that Pam Tilis has put out to date..