Search - Judds :: Love Can Build a Bridge

The final original album by the Kentucky/California mother-daughter duo, released in 1990 around the time Naomi Judd realized that illness would soon force her retirement, finds the Judds a bit past their prime. A key component of country's mid-'80s artistic revitalization with harmony showcases such as "Why Not Me" and daughter Wynonna's uptempo growlers ("Turn It Loose," "Have Mercy"), the Judds had settled into a routine at this stage, combining ordinary ballad snoozers like "Are the Roses Not Blooming" with by-the-numbers boogie-fests like "This Country's Rockin'." Not to mention the title track extravaganza, a sincere, gospel-infused, platitudinous, somewhat overblown ballad that lacks only Ken Kragen, a trendy cause, and an all-star choir to qualify for full charity-anthem status. There are still plenty of entries for the highlight reel here, however, notably the Celtic-flavored "Calling the Wind," the snappy "Talk About Love," and the Bonnie Raitt-aided blues chugger "Rompin' Stompin' Blues." And the gorgeous, Everlys-style ending of the otherwise unremarkable "In My Dreams" reminds us what a vocal treasure the Judds were at their best. --Ken Barnes