Okay, so I’m a huge White Stripes fan, and I like country well enough, but I was never into Loretta Lynn. She was just a little too country for me. The jangly twangy kind. I’ve never owned one of her albums.
Last week she was on Letterman, and started playing this sound. Pretty hard rocking. And it got harder. Then the guitar player started singing, and it was Jack White from the White Stripes. And this song just rocked. Fantastic. So I look up Loretta Lynn on the internet and discover this new album, called Van Lear Rose. I picked it up a couple of days ago.
This is the best album of the year so far. Bar none. Hands down. This album is great. Jack White’s hand is obvious throughout. He produced it, plays guitars, sings backup, and does a duet on “Portland, Oregon” which was the song I heard on Letterman.
As it turns out, White is a monster Loretta Lynn fan, and dedicated White Blood Cells to her. She heard about it, invited him over, and they decided to make an album together.
It’s an amazing mix of country, grunge, and the White Stripes sound, but White puts it all together in a way that makes it sound like a Loretta Lynn album, sort of. Harder and tougher than anything she’s done before, and a couple of songs have a full White Stripes thrash going. But White makes it all sound like it belongs perfectly together.
And this album cements in my mind the belief that Jack White is the biggest talent in music today. He’s the first musical genius of the 21st century. After the Cold Mountain soundtrack he showed that he could do bluegrass and roots music. Now he’s created the best Album of Loretta Lynn’s career. Songs like “Death Letter” show a natural prowess with the blues. If he doesn’t burn out or die, he’s going to be a huge, huge star.
And he’s not afraid to be pretty, either!
I would give Loretta Lynn’s previous work much more credit that the OP (as would Jack White), but I am dying to hear this album (I haven’t yet), so I appreciate the review and would love to hear more.
I’m a casual Loretta Lynn fan and a serious White Stripes fan. I’d read a review of the album, and been mildly intrigued by Jack White’s involvement, but hadn’t really thought about buying it. Now, though, I think I’ll pick it up; great review, Sam Stone.
And bienville, your sig kicks ass.
I didn’t mean to knock Loretta Lynn’s previous work - she’s obviously a huge talent, and her songs had an edge to them that was missing from a lot of country during her heyday. Jack White things she’s the greatest female singer/songwriter ever.
But her sound just wasn’t to my taste. So I never went out of my way to listen to her stuff. This album made me a believer. She wrote every song on it (although White arranged them all and scored a lot of the music) and the talent really shines through.
I wasn’t picking on you Sam, although as I reread my statement I realize it seems like I was. Sorry. Of course, personal taste is ultimately the most important criterion when evaluating any art. I do appreciate your review and you’ve inspired me to get up off my ass and check it out.
Although, if you really do like the new album I recommend you give a listen to some of her older stuff with a fresh ear. Sometimes we need to train ourselves to appreciate a genre that we’re not used to. God, knows there was a time when I couldn’t bear to listen to anything country. (Gram Parsons brought me into the fold!)
For jackelope’s benefit I’ll allow my sig to run again.
I’m one of those people who cannot stand country & western, bluegrass or anything related. Just doesn’t work for me.
However, “Coal Miner’s Daughter” is still one of my favorite movies ever. I watch it whenever it’s on TBS (which seems like that’s about twice a week), and find myself singing along. I even dig the Patsy Cline songs.
I’ve read reviews of Lynn’s new album with Jack White and I’m intrigued. I wonder what satellite radio channel will play the released singles? (Seems like XM has trouble pigeonholing cross-genre music. I still can’t find – out of about 100 channels – a station that plays Rev. Horton Heat.)
Anyway, based on the OP’s review above… I’m going to have to check this out.
Hmm…looks like I’m the only one. I’m a big Loretta Lynn fan (LOVE old-school country) yet haven’t heard anything by the White Stripes. Great review. I guess I’ll be picking up a new CD as well.
Pick up the latest Rolling Stone- there’s a large article about Loretta Lynn. Kinda interesting.
I grew up on Loretta Lynn and the other big 70’s country western singers (Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride et al), and was psyched to see her last year at a country music festival [aside: I really don’t like country music, but it’s an excuse for a bunch of us to party for three days straight. I’ve tried to get them to go to Ozzfest or Edgefest to no avail].
She was either drunk as a skunk, or a few sammiches short a picnic. Absolutely horrible. Forgot words. Hell, forgot songs. I tried watching her on Letterman, but after the intro went on for a few minutes without her, I had to switch channels. It’s painful to see someone you used to like lose it.
I want to get the new CD, but I’m doubtful.
If you want to hear a couple of selections from the album try this link: Loretta Lynn Player
I saw Loretta Lynn open for the Stripes at the Hammerstein Ballroom last spring (on the same night I saw …And you will know us by the trail of dead, but that’s a MMISM thread) - she is, to use a trite phrase, an American treasure*. Gracious and charismatic and, oddly, a perfect set-up to the radioactive performance that Jack and Meg treated us to.
Over the last year I bought a ton of LL records and, while good, I found them wanting. that old-school MOR sound that Nashville had, esp in the 70s, is almost unlistenable. the sessions players are slick and over-produced and provide little more that a glossy sheen upon which to rest LL’s (terrific) voice. on Van Lear Rose Jack challenges her to compete with musicians who aren’t going to hold back during the takes and aren’t going to be washed-out by post-production. She rises to the challenge. Her voice absolutely soars on ‘Have Mercy,’ High on a Mountain Top’ and ‘Mrs. Leroy Brown.’
Anyway, I bought VLR the day it came out - and that Loretta can sher fire sang - album of the year.
*for Sam a North American treasure.
FYI, KEXP (not satellite, but streams over the Web) has been playing the new LL album, and occasionally plays the Rev.
My knowledge of this could pretty much read verbatim from the OP. I saw the Letterman performance, did a double-take when I realized that was Jack White, etc. I haven’t bought the cd though, but am glad to hear good reviews.
Like MissTake, I grew up on older country…Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson, Donna Fargo, etc. My problem is, I never really liked LL, even listening to her growing up. I read some interviews with Loretta after watching the show, and thought it was interesting Jack had her write her own songs. So that, in combination with the good reviews convinces me I need to take a deeper look.
By the way, Stuart Sikes, who recorded White Blood Cells at Easley-McCain Recording and apparently had a part in engineering/mixing Van Lear Rose, lived in the other half of a duplex I rented in 2001.
You may kiss my ring.
I wouldn’t call it perfect wall to wall, as there are a few moments I’m not nuts about, but it is definitely a damn fine album, and the best I’ve heard this year. “Portland, Oregon” is the standout track for sure.
I’ve always had the same issues as i am a scientist with Loretta’s work–I love traditional country, but she came along at the wrong time for it to be captured. I love a great voice, but a singer needs more than token backup behind her to make an album I’m going to come back to. This album doesn’t come up short anywhere musically.
BTW, Van Lear, KY is the little “town” that Loretta came from; I use quotes around “town” because it’s basically a post office not too far from Paintsville. You can still (or could still, as of a few years ago) follow the signs to Loretta’s childhood home.
I always thought White Stripes were something found in Aim toothpaste.
<rimshot>
I wouldn’t know White Stripes if they/he danced naked in front of me. But Loretta Lynn can kick some ass. Not in the Johnny Cash ass kicking kinda way, but the way she kicked down the door really with her songs.
IIRC, she has had a RX med problem in the past not so long ago and I think problems with Alcohol. Didn’t her husband die not to long ago?
[wandering hijack]
She showed up on some awards show awhile back with Dolly and some other hot female singer . They were dressed cool. Loretta looked like she was dressed up for a show done in the 60’s with a long lacy gawdy as heck number that went from neck, to floor and long horrid sleeves. It was Prom 1969 Nightmare Dress, y’know. It was like she opened up her closet door and said, " Hmmm, what to wear tonight." and just grabbed something at the back of the closet. She looked really out of place and I felt bad for her. [/hijack]
Anywhooo, what exactly is the meaning behind ’ Van lear Rose’ title.
While I am on an intangent wave, what has Willie Nelson been up to lately?
“Van Lear Rose” refers to Loretta’s mama from the little town of Van Lear. Her daddy courted her and won her heart despite him being just a poor coal miner…
The comparison to Johnny Cash is interesting. It seems as if Jack White has revived the career of a country icon much like Rick Rubin did for JC’s. Hope there are many more projects to follow. The CD is absolutely wonderful!! I hope to catch LL on tour when she plays the Redneck Riviera—Myrtle Beach.
He just cancelled an upcoming performance here in New York City because of impending surgery to correct carpal tunnel syndrome. Hope it goes well for him.