first off, rest in peace mrs.parton! The legacy you created with your range in music is undeniable, and with that, I'm grateful.
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"Jolene" was my first exposure, as it was for many others. However, in my case it was sung by coach beiste on season 3 episode 7 of glee, as they pined for a lover. I went "wow, this kinda nice" and had the glee cast version saved on my nokia.
only a couple years later, after reading youtube comments of a clip of mercedes's "I will always love you" (still talking about glee btw) did i learn that it was actually this woman named Dolly Parton that wrote the song—along with many many others.
Listening here and there, I came across this album, "the grass is blue." It's probably my favorite of hers, as it marks the start of a dope return to form. Electric rhythms and larger than life production is stripped away, leaving all that good ol' acoustic goodness leftover. It's that mountain music dolly missed after riding the waves of 70s/80s/90s trends.
Lyrically, most of the songs are sad—covering topics of separation and heart break. however, in true bluegrass fashion, contrasted warm banjos and guitars match an even warmer dolly. it's just the right amount of feely to want to sway on the dance floor but not enough to want to bawl ya eyes out, y'know?
due to this format, throughout many of the tracks you get to hear her vocal chops really take the grand stage. there's a strong sense of control in the twangy and soaring bellows—almost as if she's saying "yeah. i been doin this for a while. check it."
okayyy, flex on em dolly i see you i see you. let em know.
anywho, classic record. I'm excited to listen to more. a friend of mine's family gave me a huge cassette stack of her catalogue—so, to whoever's roadtripping with me next, fair warning.. we gettin twangy…
