Come home from work. Let the dogs out and check the mail. Come in, make a whiskey and ginger, open up the packages and check out what cds I got that day.
That routine happens more often than not, week in and week out here at the ninebullets compound. Sometimes cd’s I’ve been waiting (or hoping) for are in the mailbox, while most times it’s bands I’ve not ever heard of. But there are the rare occasions where I get a cd I did not even know existed but, had I known, I would have been counting the days ’til it came. Such was the case when I took a pull from my Beam and opened an innocent enough looking envelope. As I pulled the cd out, I immediately saw the words “Eilen” and “Jewell” and none of the other packages mattered anymore. Did you know Eilen was releasing a tribute to Loretta Lynn? ‘Cause, before that moment I sure didn’t, but even before listening to a single note I knew it was gonna be awesome.
Butch Holler is the name of the Kentucky town in which Loretta Lynn was raised, so it only seems appropriate for it to also serve as the title of this tribute. Now, I’ll be honest. Like you, I wondered if Eilen could actually pull off such a tribute to Loretta. I wonder if Eilen didn’t know that would be the main question when, with the same kind of brash attitude that helped Loretta dominate the 60′s and 70′s country charts, Eilen selected one of Ms. Lynn’s more take-no-bullshit tracks, “Fist City”, to open the album. “Fist City” manages to maintain the essence of Loretta’s original performance, as well as the fun and flirty nature of Eilen’s music. It’s a marriage that plays itself out effortlessly through 12 tracks of Loretta staples, as well as a few the casual bystander may not know.
In the end, cover album or not, this cd is most definitely essential listening and almost a lock for my end of the year Top 10. Check it out!
Eilen Jewell – Fist City
Eilen Jewell – A Man I Hardly Know
Eilen Jewell – You’re Looking At Country
Eilen Jewell’s Official Site, Eilen Jewell on myspace, Buy Butcher Holler
Autopsy IV
Part time blogger. Full time hater.
damn — these tracks are good, and Eilen can really do no wrong in my eyes… but listening to these made me promptly put on some Loretta and listen to the songs proper like….
All I can say WOW Eilen really does a great great job on the songs on this Loretta Tribute Cd and what a way to help celebrate Loretta’s 50th year in the music business Well done Eilen well done.
always for Loretta
As a life-long fan of American Icon, Loretta Lynn, I am always a little skeptical when I hear that another artist has recorded one of her hits that are in extensive catalog from a career that has hit the fifty years mark. But I am very impressed with Eilen Jewel’s new release and now have this tribute in my car, ipod, home, and computer! Finally an artist has taken on the monumental task to walk down the path of probably the greatest singer/songwriter in music history and actually hits the bulls eye!
So awesome!!
I don’t think that I was ever so excited to get something in the mail! I was raised on Loretta Lynn and recently discovered Eilen, so am happier than a clam with whisky in hand! Cheers!!!
Great write up! There’s another review of the album here:
http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4497
We also loved it. Thanks for posting some of the tracks, too.