Patty Loveless unleashes on the classics
As terrific as this project looks on paper, the results aren’t as satisfying as the elements might suggest. Loveless is in good voice, the songs are classics, and the arrangements suitably stripped of modern Nashville conventions, but the results are lacking in dynamic range and one-dimensional. Loveless has the tone and twang to effortlessly cast herself back (unlike, for example, Martina McBride on 2005’s Timeless), the problem is that she also has an incredibly powerful voice that’s unleashed in full-throat on every track. The Linda Ronstadt-styled emoting is impressive, even stop-you-in-your-tracks chilling, for a track or two, but the lack of any softness is wearying at album length. Emory Gordy Jr.’s production and arrangements provide typically sympathetic settings for his wife, and Loveless obviously respects and deeply understands her material, but compacting fourteen emotionally-charged singles onto one album leaves the listener feeling battered. Perhaps it was Loveless’ artistic goal to hammer home the sorrow of these songs, but it would make a better listening experience as a series of singles stretched out over a year or two. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com] 