Van Lear Rose (Loretta Lynn & Jack White album)

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 8:30pm

It's such a treasure.

"After all, Lynn is one of the most distinctive female vocalists of the last century, and a true groundbreaking artist in her own right, writing her own material in an era when it was practically unheard of for female performers. And the wonderful news to report about Van Lear Rose is that Lynn's voice remains the playful coo that it always was, seemingly undimmed by age, unsullied by experience. The songs are equally timeless—the title track, "Portland Oregon," "God Makes No Mistake," and at least two other tracks deserve instant classic status, awash in pedal steel, devoid of ornamentation, but filled to the brim with sure and simple emotion. The sad fact is that without the divine intervention of a current It Boy, these instant classics probably would've been ignored by any record label, let alone a mainstream powerhouse like Interscope. Thus, Messrs. Rubin and White have, in letting the circle be unbroken and bringing legendary voices back where they belong, also brought rock n' roll so much closer to its home, from where it should never stray but so often does. They say home is where the heart is, and Van Lear Rose hoots, hollers, and holds us closer to the heart of rock than most of the 20-somethings jumping around on your so-called Music Television. And while country radio probably won't "get it," and rock radio will most likely treat it as a trite novelty, the important thing to remember is that somehow, in the midst of the vacuous sucking sound that is modern music, soul music can still be heard, sung by the sweetest voices God gave breath to."

http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/loretta-lynn-van-lear-rose/442
Jack & Loretta perform on Letterman