a breakout album, but NOT indispensable.

Review Score: (8/10)
For years, I had been urged to get this album, and indeed, was glad to do so just recently. All those great songs by songwriters I admire? That patented reverb sound any Lanois-produced album features? And, not least, Emmylou's ethereal voice?

It's a can't miss, I agree. And this album signalled a new stage for Ms. Harris, who I feel had previously always seemed more comfortable in a supporting vocal role than in taking the spotlight.

Still, though, Wrecking Ball was, to a degree, playing it safe. This is an album of COVERS after all, great though they are.

If you have bucks for only one recent Emmylou Harris album, then the indispensable pick -- the album where Ms. Harris completes her evolution into a singer-songwriter with some fiercely intelligent, achingly beautiful compositions of her own -- is Red Dirt Girl.

Wrecking Ball, though, is an interesting and compelling companion album, to see how her ambitions spurred her and where they would eventually lead. As weigh stations go, this is a lovely listen.

More Reviews:

• Emmylou at her best
• Nice Work
• A gift from the Gods
• haunting and beautiful
• MOODY, EXPERIMENTAL ALT ROCK CAMEO FROM HARRIS
• Can't Understand the Lyrics
• So Much Emotion!
• Excellent cd from Ms. Harris
• Brilliant from start to finish
• Another masterpiece
• Harris Never Disappoints
• Achingly Beautiful
• THE BEST ALL-ROUND ALBUM IN MY COLLECTION
• Sublime, beautiful, ageless and timeless.
• MY FAVORITE NEW RELEASE OF THE LAST DECADE
• Cosmic American Music
• Emmylou as you never heard her before.
• ...wow...
• Masterpiece!
• Timeless
• Artsy Fartsy
• A truly great album.
• Essential Music
• The amazing versatility of Emmy Lou
• emmylou makes the album of her life
• Emmylou's Masterpiece
• Stands Up With Time
• One of the best albums of the 90's
• Absolutely awful
• a breakout album, but NOT indispensable.
• Emmylou's best
• near perfection...
• Essential
• Finely crafted achievement
• Very disappointing
• Like 'Red Dirt Girl' but earlier
• the middle ground
• LEARNING TO APPRECIATE
• Incredible. One of the best albums of the 90's.
• Pretty Awful
• A stunning piece of work
• Emmylou Harris' Greatest Masterpiece!
• Beautiful
• A transcedent, religious experience for any music fan
• wasted talent in lousy production
• breaking out of the paradigm box
• a horrible, horrible album
• Still great after all these years...
• Another Lanois Disaster
• One of my favorites
• Awesome and touching
• disappointed
• wonderful collection of covers
• Daniel Lanois - Wrecking Ball
• 'Sweet old world' rivals Bowie's 'Wild is the wind'
• SUBLIME ALLTIME CLASSIC
• Splendid
• Mommy, make the bad music go away!
• A Haunting Masterpiece
• Another Daniel Lanois production miracle
• A fine departure
• Tantric Country
• A Masterpiece
• 5-star songs - 1-star production
• Wrecking Ball
• Superb
• Stunning
• EXCELLENT CD... For torture!
• Wrecking Ball is a blast
• One of the best albums of the nineties
• Wonderful
• IT DESERVES 6 STARS...
• The best album of the 90's
• Emmylous's fnest hour bar none
• What a thorough disappointment
• Another realm
• A fine wine
• Astonishing
• Best album of 1995
• Sounds like she's on downers, slurred lyrics and dynamics.
• Quivering.....
• An incredible, otherworldly listening experience
• Damn the Niches: Emmy Drops Da Bomb
• Essential to ANY Music Collection
• Absolutely Stunning!
• whispers from the heart
• Native rythyms.
• Definitely One of the Best
• If country music is winsome, this recording should have won.
• Cannot get these songs out of my head!
• A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
• Best album for quite a few years
• The BEST CD I have ever listened to!!!
• One of the best
• A CD that gives something new to appreciate at each listen..
• Weird...but GREAT!!!
• Fantastic album!