The Grass Is Blue
Hungry Again, 1998's return to form, was the sound of a country legend with nothing to lose and playing for keeps. Still, that startling album barely presaged the seamless grace of Dolly Parton's subsequent celebration of her mountain roots. This may be a full-out bluegrass venture, but tradition only tells half the story. The daring set includes barnstorming remakes of songs byBilly JoelandBlackfoot, two new Parton originals, and the old-as-time folk narrative "Silver Dagger," transformed--viaSam Bush's vertiginous mandolin picking andJerry Douglas's frenzied Dobro work--into a mysterious, ambient epic. It's a testament to the force of Parton's voice and personality that while surrounded by top-tier players like Stuart Duncan (fiddle) and Bryan Sutton (guitar) she's still the undeniable leader. Her singing is masterful, absolutely vibrating with energy and soulfulness. Along with Steve Earle'sThe Mountain, this is the finest bluegrass release of 1999, and one of the most fully realized albums of Dolly Parton's career.--Roy Kasten