Dolly Parton Unleashes Her Inner 'Rockstar': Album Review

Diwenehi kanggo umum tanggal 17 November, Dolly Parton "@Rockstar"@@ ndadekake momen signifikan nalika ikon budaya, kasayang dikenal minangka 'Backwoods Barbie,' ngganti gitar akustik kanggo siji listrik. Perjalanan ambisius liwat crags lan puncak rock 'n' roll nuduhake aspirasi Parton kanggo mbantu dheweke lan venture menyang alam anyar. Kanthi kombinasi saka sembilan asli lan 21 cover, "@Rockstar" iku tribute kanggo Parton's adoration lan hormat kanggo genre, ngandhut eksekusi sing sering ndadekake luwih saka ditunggu.

Album iki dimulai kanthi energik karo eponymous "Rockstar," ing ngendi Parton ngumumake status karo energi sing bisa nyedhiyakake stadion. Kanthi riffs gitar riffing lan beat electrifying, ana harapan saka pomp-star rock lan showmanship, nanging ngandhut lyrics catchy nyuripake ing ngluwiya ("@I'm on a roll, I'm on a streak, life's a song lan I'm on beat"), ana echo of anticipation kanggo grunger undertow sing ora cukup ketemu.

Ing "Every Breath You Take,"@@@ kolaborasi karo Sting ing lagu ikonik, kesempatan kanggo reinterpretasi kreatif jelas jelas. Nanging, rendisi iki tetep ing batas-batas kenyamanan, luwih kaya duet sing akèh ing wilayah anyar sing menarik. "Open Arms," ballad sing dikasihaké dening Journey, diwenehi karo Steve Perry, lan nalika potensial nyedhiyakake jiwa antarane belts kuat Perry lan kelangit Parton impen, prestasi ndeleng reserved, ora cukup nyebar ing eksplosif emosi sing ndadekake asal.

When Parton collaborates with Elton John on "Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me," there is an undercurrent of dormant possibility that is touched yet not fully unearthed. The track has its moments of luster, with both icons' vocals interweaving in a grand manner, but the partnership could have excavated deeper into a more stirring reinterpretation of the moving ballad.

The ambitious cover of Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven," featuring the unconventional pairing with Lizzo and Sasha Flute, is as enticing on paper as it is in execution, albeit without the transformative punch that could have marked the album’s pinnacle of daring creativity. There’s no denying the talent and pure vocal prowess on display, but there's a perceptible reluctance to fully let loose and cascade into the abyss that rock often summons.

Amidst her original compositions, "World on Fire" confronts societal complacency with the urgency that is a hallmark of rock, yet musically, it remains tepid where one might expect a more fiery delivery. With rock being the proud, outspoken outcast of music genres, Parton's reserved approach results in a voice raised, yet not quite the rallying cry it could have been.

In her collaboration with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for “Let It Be,” a soaring sense of spirit is vivid. There's an elegance to how Parton's affectionate inflections merge with the earnestness of the original Beatles. Yet, one is left yearning for an edgier turn—a tinge of the gravelly upheaval that Parton, McCartney, and Starr are more than capable of crafting had the interpretations stretched beyond their comfort zones.

"I Dreamed About Elvis," featuring Ronnie McDowell, ventures into personal territory with a whimsical ode to the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Here, Parton interweaves her voice with the narrative ("And I dreamed I was standing with the King by my side, my heart beating so loud, I thought I'd died"), conjuring an endearing stretch of musical history that pays homage in grand and playful style. Yet, the track’s execution doesn’t harness the transformative energy of Elvis’ era, capturing adoration without the spark of reinvention.

Ann Wilson joins Parton in "Magic Man," a song that by all accounts could have been an explosive meeting of two musical supernovas. While their vocals navigate the terrain with grace, the song rests more as a courteous homage than a rambunctious ode that channels the true fiery essence of the heart's enigmatic mystic that the tune alludes to.

The collaborative spirit of rock is well-documented in "Rockstar," articulated through the lineup of guest artists who are rock royalty in their own rights. Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and Neil Giraldo bring their namesake energy, yet the collision with Parton’s country-rooted style feels restrained, with each song teetering on the edge of potential greatness.

As "Rockstar" reaches its conclusion with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Free Bird," one anticipates an ascent to the prophetic freedom the song represents. Parton's rendition is sung with clarity and respect, yet the grit and sense of unchained liberation are diluted into a rendition that feels too polished for the rebellion it could incite.

Given the immense respect and enthusiasm Parton brings to "Rockstar," assigning a modest 4.5 out of 10 may seem harsh. But the album, while grand in scale and collaborative effort, fails to capture the rogue and raucous spirit of rock. The album often feels like a velvet-lined homage, restrained by its deference and garnished with Dolly’s undeniable charm—characteristics that while warm and welcoming, are incongruent with the wild, free, and rebellious nature that defines rock 'n' roll.

<pfseg id="0">Album iki ora diwenehi saka norma Parton, ngasilake fakta sing bakat dheweke ora ngerti batas-batas. Nanging, ing petualangan ing lapangan rock, wong ngarep kanggo kothak lan kothak ing ngisor glitter - a rawness sing diwenehi ing basa Poland saka "Rockstar."

Tracklist:

1. Rockstar
2. World On Fire
3. Every Breath You Take (Sting)
4. Open Arms (Steve Perry)
5. Magic Man (Carl Version, karo Ann Wilson)
6. Long As I Can See The Light (John Fogerty)
7. Either Or (Kid Rock)
8. I Want You Back (Steven Tyler)
9. What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You (Stevie Nicks)
10. Purple Rain
11. Baby, I Love Your Way (Peter Frampton)
12. I Hate Myself For Loving You (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts)
13. Night Moves (Chris Stapleton)
14. Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus)
15. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (Pink, Brandi Carlile)
16. Keep On Loving You (Kevin Cronin)
17. Heart Of Glass (Debbie Harry)
18. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Elton John)
19. Try To Rock And Roll Me (Melissa Etheridge)
20. Warga ing Langit (Lizzo, Sasha Flute)
21. We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You
22. Bygones (Rob Halford)
23. My Blue Tears (Simon Le Bon)
24. What's Up? (Linda Perry)
25. You're No Good (Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow)
26. Heartbreaker (Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo)
27. Bittersweet (Michael McDonald)
28. I Dreamed About Elvis (Ronnie McDowell)
29. Let It Be (Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr)
30. Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd)