Mountain Soul II

Great Album by a Great Star!!
As I first listened to this CD. I thought it sounded like Emmy Lou Harris. And I see on the album, that Emmy Lou is guest vocal on the CD, plus Patty sings a couple of Emmy's songs:"Blue Memories" and "Diamnond in MY Crown". This is one of the best songs on the album. I have big fan of Patty Loveless since the beginning. This is has to be considered on of the best albums that she has made. And this is good traditional country music.

Maybe it will grow on me after a while.....
Well there is no doubt in my mind that Patty is pure bonafide Kentucky cut !I must say I was a bit disappointed that some of the songs on Mountain Soul II I had already heard. Thats ok but..I wanted some real new kicking songs from Patty only she can give.I listened to the entire album and I was still hoping for some sparks. It seems to some extent the enthusiasm wasn't there.Sorry I don't share the same sentiments as the last reviewers.I remain a true blue fan always though . I will say my favorite song on this album is "You Burned A Bridge".

Absolutely Perfect
Mr. Dorfman has said it much more eloquently than I, but let me add my $.02. I've been listening to and playing country music for 50 years and this is the first time I've been able to say this about any album, it's perfect! I've always been a Patty Loveless fan but her last three albums have been just stunning. Mountain Soul II is the best of the bunch. Patty is the most soulful and versitile female country singer to have ever walked the planet. Sorry Patsy, Loretta and Tammy but it's true. She has matured into a singer who has no equal. Her name belongs up there with Jones, Haggard, Cline and dare I say, Williams Sr. I know I sound like a kid gushing over the latest pop wonder but I'm an old guy with lots of miles on my odometer and lots of listening experience so what I've said here is heart felt. My hope is that some of the current crop of country performers (male and female) will listen to and learn from her.

The Forgotton Queen of Country Music
For fans of "Real" Country music, please read on. For those of you who feel that what is shoved down your throats on the so-called Country music stations is "Country" music, you can stop here. I don't want to waste your time. Patty has been around for awile now, considered by many to be one of the old guard, so to speak. She has come to a point of her career obviously, that she doesn't really care if the radio stations play her music or not(not that it doesn't hurt her inside, I'm sure), but is simply proud that she can still satisfy her core fan base and hold on to her integrity. She absolutely does that with Mountain Soul II. This is an album of epic proportions -a work of art. For those of you who still love good ole' "real" Country music, don't hesitate for one day to purchase this gem. A few years ago Patty chose to go back to her roots and record "Mountain Soul" which received fantastic critical acclaim, but of course was missed by radio(deliberately), in my opinion. All country radio wants to play today is what I refer to as washed over Southern Rock N' Roll, and I loved Southern Rock, but not when I want to hear Country music. There are some of the current million unit selling artists that you can't even understand when they "sing?". I'm not going to review each and every song as some reviewers like to do. I feel that way of doing things many times becomes boring. I will tell you that the opening cut, "Busted", the great Harlan Howard song blows the doors off of anything being played on the country stations today(save for George Strait and Alan Jackson). Patty even went so far as going back to some of the original coal mining lyrics of this song, which have been changed by some artists, probably due mostly because her late Father was a coal miner. I should mention that the album is done mainly in a Bluegrass style because Patty has re-done a few songs from earlier in her career in a Bluegrass style, which gives the songs a whole different feel, fresher if it may be said. With that said, Patty is still the Queen of "Real" Country music. So, if that's what you want to hear, don't cheat yourself. If that's not what you want to hear, you may want to pass. But, I would suggest to those naysayers out there, buy it and listen, because you may find that you've really been missing something that is fading away with today's "Country" artists. Thanks alot!

Just stunning
Take a vocalist at the height of her prowess, remove the need to play to the mainstream, let her loose in the genre she's most comfortable in, surround her with the best Appalachian bluegrass musicians, let the man who loves her the most produce and protect her and give her 15 musical gems to sing. Provide absolutely flawless arrangements, production and engineering and you have the recipe for Patty Loveless' new CD "Mountain Soul II." The result is just a stunningly beautiful recording that is easily one of 2009's best of all genres. Every cut is a delight, compelling, pure, sometimes heartbreakingly sad but always anchored by Patty's outstanding vocals. She has been wonderful for decades and with "Mountain Soul II" takes it to another level. Not a weak cut here but if I had to list my favorites they would be "A Handful Of Dust," "When The Last Curtain Falls," "The Bramble And The Rose," "Busted" and "A Prisoner's Tears." My apologies to the other songs because I could have selected any of them as well. A true artist at the top of her craft, Patty Loveless delivers a tour de force that is of such quality that while not aimed at the mainstream will undoubtedly make inroads there. Real people reecognize the real thing when they hear it. P.S. Here's a recommendation - a duet CD with Patty Loveless and Allison Kraus. Now wouldn't that be a treat.