Emmylou Harris

Wrecking Ball

Astonishing

Review Score:

(10/10)
It's a pity how many fans want to confine artists they like in to little, narrow boxes. In their minds their favorite artists should repeat the same style over and over, in some cases virtually recording the same album time and time again.

Granted, such a formula may be tempting at times. As the old cliche goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," and few things can be more painful then an artist trying a new approach and failing miserably.

Fortunately that is NOT the case with Emmylou Harris and her superb album "Wrecking Ball" which will easily be near the very top of many "best Albums of the 90's" list.

The atmospherics of Daniel Lanois' production are the first thing that gets noticed, as they are radically different from the production that has been used on any other Emmylou album. It haunts. It intrigues. It buries itself inside your memory and is not easily shake.

The songs are largely the type that Emmylou has recorded before. Some outside covers from the likes of Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Neil Young, Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch etc. A few by some lesser known writers. An original collaborations, etc. There are also some Lanois penned tunes that are a bit different from Emmylou, and the whole project hangs together flawlessly and opens up exciting new possibilities for Emmylou who, despite the wishes of some, continues to grow and flourish as an artist.

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