Emily: One would think that, after a decades-long career filled with countless albums, performances, collaborations, and guest appearances, Emmylou Harris would be satisfied to just chill for a while. I guess that's not how she does it. Red Dirt Girl marked a milestone in Harris' career, as it was her first album that she wrote or co-wrote the majority of the music. She usually does covers, but judging from this album she should've gone with songwriting a long time ago. The album is both country and folk, with each song telling a story. I personally enjoyed the tracks that leaned more towards folk and were even a bit edgy - specifically I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now and Tragedy. The latter is a duet with Patti Scialfa and has Bruce Springsteen on backup vocals, which is not something you hear everyday on a country album but it definitely made the song more raw and a bit rockin'. After this album, I'm pretty sure Emmylou didn't slow down from churning out more music - and I hope she's sticking to songwriting.
Favorite Tracks: Tragedy; I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now; Bang the Drum Slowly
Zack: It’s always exciting when a young musician
starts to expand their catalogue enough that they no longer feel the need to
rely on covers to fill a set-list. Emmylou Harris reached that point of
maturity when she was barely past 50. Hey, better a late bloomer than not at
all. I’m joking, obviously. When you work in the realms of folk and country, it
seems that not covering the classics is a way of giving the history of the
genres the finger. But here, where Harris starts to really branch out on her
own, she hits paydirt. A lot of the songs are really just beautiful. They’re
very subtle but melodic. It doesn’t rock you to sleep, but makes you feel at
peace. Also, she features both Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews. I’ve never
been so torn.
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