It really doesn't matter what I write here. 'Little Sparrow' CDs will be birthday presents for line-dancers across the world for months to come. What it won't be, however, is on the shopping list of folks who consider themselves aficionados of 'serious' music. For those cool folks Dolly Parton is responsible for writing Whitney Houston's ogre hit 'I Will Always Love You', and for that she will never be forgiven.
Well, hip ones, the joke's on you, because 'Little Sparrow' is quite simply, a fantastic album. Dolly's voice is as far away from the Houston bellow as humanly possible and the album's subtle orchestration brings out every song's superb melodies and soaring harmonies.
Tracks like 'Shine', 'Seven Bridges Road' and 'Bluer Pastures' effortlessly meld country and bluegrass into moments of virtual pop perfection. And if there's been a better version of Cole Porter's 'I Get A Kick Out Of You' than the Parton jazz-grass treatment, I've never heard it.
I know you still don't believe me, but take this thought with you. If you've ever enjoyed the music of Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Will Oldham, Johnny Cash, Wilco or The Byrds, you owe it to yourself to give 'Little Sparrow' a listen. Well, I tried.
