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 Lynn benefits from White-washing A Review By Jason Statts Loretta Lynn, the crooning coal-miner’s daughter from Kentucky, has been making country cool for more than four decades now. Her meager beginnings were made famous by nearly 75 autobiographical albums over the years; her legend has grown to the status of a tried-and-true American icon. Her latest release, “Van Lear Rose” (Interscope Records, 2004), promises to keep her star shining for years to come. The versatile “Van Lear Rose” was produced and arranged by Jack White — that’s Jack White of the blues/country/garage-rock-influenced duo The White Stripes. It is not a country record per se. It doesn’t easily fit into any single genre of music. Instead, it plays as a bit of a sampler platter of Americana. There’s country, sure, but it is real, honest-to-goodness country music, not the watered-down pop rubbish that is known as today’s contemporary country. Songs like “Trouble On The Line” recalls “tear-in-your-beer” greats such as Patsy Cline or Hank Williams Sr. Folk and jazz are represented well, as are blues and gospel. “Mad Mrs. Leroy Brown” is honky-tonk at its best. “Little Red Shoes” tells the story of a childhood sickness that nearly took Lynn’s life; her stolen red shoes helped save her. At least you’ll think so. White performs guitar duties on most tracks and lends vocals to the duets “Portland, Oregon” and “This Old House.” His signature guitar tones are easily recognizable. His arrangements are tightly focused and well-suited for each individual track on the record. “Van Lear Rose” is a timeless recording. It is a record full of energy, hope and fondness for life. Lynn is clearly a super star. This album will only serve to keep her at the top of the country heap. It also will allow a new generation of fans to get hip to the queen of the coalmine. Dig it. Selections from “Van Lear Rose” can be heard on SCAD Radio, www.scadradio.org. Statts is an art director in college publications. |
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