Still Country
In a life that took her from Butcher Holler to stardom to legend, Loretta Lynn has endured her share of tragedies. The 1996 death of husband Mooney--her right hand from the start of Lynn's career--required an excruciating adjustment that tested her grit and resiliency. Her first album of new songs in 12 years reveals how well those traits sustained her. ProducerRandy Scruggsplays to her strengths, emphasizing Lynn's voice, which is nearly as strong now as it was decades ago. The snappy, direct wit that made "Fist City" and "The Pill" special now flavors "Table for Two" and "Country in My Genes," an unsubtle dig at current Nashville trendiness. There's a consistent quality that runs through the entire album, but the showcase is "I Can't Hear the Music," a heartfelt, direct tribute to Mooney. It's impossible to not be moved as Loretta bares her love, loss, and pain to the world. It may not be radio-friendly, but the song is as real as it gets.--Rich Kienzle