Dolly Parton - Halos & Horns - CD

Good ol' American Dolly Parton is among the world's most accomplished and heartfelt singers and songwriters. For Halos & Horns, she delves into the old-time country and bluegrass sounds of her youth and native Southern region, and creates a contemporary and timeless set of uplifting, self-penned songs (save for two inspired cover versions). At age 56, she just may have painted her masterpiece.

"Sugar Hill," coincidentally the name of her record label, is a sing-a-long reminiscence and celebration of the natural beauty of "Sug, Sug, Sug, Sugar Hill. . ." Parton is joined on sweet, sweet harmonies by Richard Dennison. Her melancholy "Not For Me," features an emotional dobro melody by Randy Kohrs. "Hello God" is one of those songs that questions faith while at the same time, affirms it. Lost in a world that includes pain, violence and inexplicable horrors, Parton wonders "Are you out there?" but by the song's end, she is beseeching God to hear her prayers. She belts out her plea in classic gospel tradition. "Raven Dove," is another fervent song for the faithful who yearn for world peace; its hallelujah chorus bursts out from the clouds and into light as "the raven of darkness turns into the white dove of peace."

The '70s never sounded so good as when Parton reworks the wistful "If," the big hit by David Gates and Bread, into something less schmaltzy and more authentic, delivered in bluegrass-style, of all things! Starting out tentative and ponderous, once the fiddle and banjo players kick-in, the song sails on its own power; just like the lyric, Parton is able to "Simply fly away," soaring high on the strength of her own vocal performance.

"Shattered Image" is back porch blues with a country heart. It sounds as if Parton is taking on the tabloids, nay sayers and cynics who just don't want to believe that there's such a thing as someone beautiful inside and out, pure, sweet and successful as "Dolly, Country Star." For the Southern Gothic story song, "These Old Bones," Parton tries on another voice, shocking in its richness as well as rawness. Parton twists her voice into new shapes and lends it to a song that simultaneously displays her humor and courage, with a certain poignance. "John Daniel" is her version of a traditional country/blues ballad with a story as old as time -- how will we recognize the Lord when he comes to our town? Parton breathes new life into the rock and roll chestnut, Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." Her arrangement returns the song to the beautiful and folkie composition that it originally was, laying to rest the rock and roll cliche that it had become by endless FM radio rotations and imitations.

Dolly Parton is the real deal: a living doll and down-to-earth angel with a talent and heart to match her larger than life, glamour gal image. There are no visible horns around her halo; rather, Halos & Horns is about the ever rising spirit of faith, hope and charity that lives in Dolly and her gift of music which she continues to share with the world.

By Danielle Santiago