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Forever a dichotomy in the real heartland of American country music, Dolly Rebecca Parton has balanced commercial savvy with self-deprecating grace, all underlined with a very real ability to make music. At the same time of course she looks like some cartoon creation never appearing in anything less than towering heels and an equally gravity defying hairdo. In the UK we love her unreservedly. Her career has been rejuvenated by the support of national institutions like Sir Terry Wogan, who became a one-man marketing tool on the release of her pure bluegrass albums several years ago. Meanwhile in the States (where bluegrass is bizarrely regarded as country's poor hick cousin) she's still more lauded for her mainstream career. Backwoods Barbie is very much aimed at that market.
Co-produced by her bandleader, Kent Wells, and featuring no less that nine self-penned tracks, this is the sound of an artist both returning to the middle of the road while looking back over her own status as a blonde with more to her than a body that owes more to science than nature. First single, Better Get To Livin' is a strident ode to the lessons that Parton's learned in a lifetime spent in an arena where men most definitely are men and women are expected to be grateful. It sets the tone for most of the album. Dolly wants us to know that she's back and she means business. As such the subject matter concerns the great country staples of heartbreak (I Will Forever Hate Roses, Made Of Stone) and defiance in the face of heartbreak (the bolshy Shinola). While the production remains relatively conservative it still contains a slight modernisation of that Nashville rock sound. But she doesn't wholly forsake her roots. The best track by a (country) mile here is the haunting Only Dreamin'. This wonderful Appalachian lament wouldn't sound out of place on Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' last album.
More surprising are others' songs attempted here. While Dolly's take on Smokey Robinson's Tracks Of My Tears is sweet and straightforward, the banjo led take on the Fine Young Cannibals' Drives Me Crazy is a little odd, even though it extends the tradition of leftfield cover versions begun with Stairway To Heaven on Halos And Horns.
Already doing the business in the charts in the US, this seems to have been a wise career move at this stage for Parton. Her British fans will lap it up as well. The only regret is that you know she's talented enough to rise above such ordinary fare. --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Dolly Parton makes a very welcome return with her first mainstream country album in seventeen years, "Backwoods Barbie". As a big fan of hers, I had been anticipating the release of this album for ages and am glad to say that I am not disappointed at all.
The eleven tracks - nine of them written by Dolly herself - compliment Dolly's voice perfectly and as usual she evokes every emotion that each individual song requires.
The first song "Better Get to Livin'" is an inspiring song in which Dolly imparts advice about life and how you should let go and live without letting anything worry you. "Jesus & Gravity" is similarly spiritual and encourages the need to have faith in Jesus in spite of life's obstacles and hurdles.
The title track "Backwoods Barbie" - a title which Dolly applies to herself - expresses her wish to be taken seriously in spite of the way she looks and dresses. "Made of Stone", a heartbreaking ballad about a woman in a relationship with a married man shows Dolly's vulnerable side; as does "Cologne", a short, simple yet still very effective song about another tragic love triangle.
The sassy "Shinola" has Dolly taking out her anger and frustration against her selfish and conceited man, opting to leave him for someone else.
Dolly's voice is as strong and as beautiful as it ever was and this is a wonderful album. The songs are strong, well written and extremely catchy with excellent beats and instrumentals. Dolly proves once again that not only is she the greatest female country singer of all time, but also one of the greatest of any genre of music.
The eleven tracks - nine of them written by Dolly herself - compliment Dolly's voice perfectly and as usual she evokes every emotion that each individual song requires.
The first song "Better Get to Livin'" is an inspiring song in which Dolly imparts advice about life and how you should let go and live without letting anything worry you. "Jesus & Gravity" is similarly spiritual and encourages the need to have faith in Jesus in spite of life's obstacles and hurdles.
The title track "Backwoods Barbie" - a title which Dolly applies to herself - expresses her wish to be taken seriously in spite of the way she looks and dresses. "Made of Stone", a heartbreaking ballad about a woman in a relationship with a married man shows Dolly's vulnerable side; as does "Cologne", a short, simple yet still very effective song about another tragic love triangle.
The sassy "Shinola" has Dolly taking out her anger and frustration against her selfish and conceited man, opting to leave him for someone else.
Dolly's voice is as strong and as beautiful as it ever was and this is a wonderful album. The songs are strong, well written and extremely catchy with excellent beats and instrumentals. Dolly proves once again that not only is she the greatest female country singer of all time, but also one of the greatest of any genre of music.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm not a particularly huge country fan. So much of it is so twee and dislikeable, but I'm a big fan of quality music, no matter what genre its from. This 2008 return to Country from it's reigning Queen is quite simply, a stunning album. For a good half an hour I couldn't get past the first track, and first single from the album, 'Better Get To Livin' which cements Dolly's reputation as a master of her art. From that point onwards, the album just goes from strength to strength. I was touched by the lyrics of the song 'Backwoods Barbie', and Dolly's vulnerability beneath her exterior is a recurring theme. I'm not sure 'Drive Me Crazy' works as well as some others, but that's certainly not to say it's a weak point.
It's testimony to the quality of this release that those for whom Dolly has become the butt of her jokes in terms of her image will be unable to do anything but stand and admire a country legend, back and in the greatest form ever. Remarkable.
It's testimony to the quality of this release that those for whom Dolly has become the butt of her jokes in terms of her image will be unable to do anything but stand and admire a country legend, back and in the greatest form ever. Remarkable.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
'Backwoods Barbie', Dollys latest release, shows just why Ms Parton has been in this business so long and why people love her and her music so much. Real, hurting and heartwrenching, 'Made of Stone' is easily an album standout. Its original country theme of infidelity is forefont, and dealt with in impecable style - engrossed with killer vocals, tearjerking lyrics and worldclass musicality. The uplifting writing of 'Jesus & Gravity' and 'Better Get to Livin' create another 2 album standouts and really shine Dollys personality and self. 'Backwoods Barbie' is an autobiographical genius - true Dolly, and 'Cologne' will have you empathising with 'the other woman' - something very few have ever achieved. Ultimately, 'Backwoods Barbie' is an album about life, a spiraling journey through human emotion, topped with killer hooks and melodies and impecable vocals throughout. Dolly Parton deserves worldwide praise and mega sales for this masterpiece - a highlight of the 21st century and country music.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Leicester Bangs Review (2008):
Dolly Parton - Backwoods Barbie (Dolly)
Her first mainstream country album in almost two decades, Dolly Parton returns to Nashville's womb-like embrace with a strong, mostly... Read more
Her first mainstream country album in almost two decades, Dolly Parton returns to Nashville's womb-like embrace with a strong, mostly... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Leicester Bangs
A good mix
This cd contains a good variety of songs and is very easy to listen to just to unwind. Worth buying.
Published 16 months ago by Gillian
Backwood Barbie
Beautiful album from Dolly. Good recording and very good service from Amazon. The First CD sent from Amazon was lost !! Read more
Published 18 months ago by develara
Wonderful!!
I like the original Dolly stuff and this is just as good, even better with the title track and a couple of others on here. Read more
Published 23 months ago by E. Thompson
wildone
I really injoy this album it is billent and it made me feel calm when i got in a bad mood
Published on 9 May 2010 by Martina L. Davis
backwoods barbie
I love Dolly and this cd is really great. I know all the words to all the songs and drive my family mad!Backwoods Barbie
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by Mrs. C. A. Hale
Barbie, maybe, but backwoods she aint!
This CD is fantastic - a return to form for the First Lady of Country music. From the opening track, the lyrics and music flow easily, and are all likeable, 'catchy' and... Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2008 by R. L. Judd
Excellent ... Well done Dolly !!
I just felt that I had to write a review.
We went to see Dolly last night at the O2 arena and wow ... what a show. Read more
We went to see Dolly last night at the O2 arena and wow ... what a show. Read more
Published on 6 July 2008 by *
A great, but not that great.
For the die-hard Dolly fans i'm sure this is a 5/5 all the way but for me, a 28 year old casual Dolly fan its not quite perfect. Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2008 by M. R. Hallsworth
A Welcome Return To Country
Apparently this is Dolly's first "mainstream" Country album in 17 years. But throughout all the Bluegrass and covers albums, you should never have really lost sight of the fact... Read more
Published on 12 April 2008 by IWFIcon
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