Search - The Larkins, Dolly Parton :: Larkins

More like Alison Krauss than Dolly Parton

Sanpete | in Utah | 12/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"They work for Dolly Parton (who contributes a song and backing vocals for it), but these two sisters, and the overall sound of some of these songs, remind me very much of the young Alison Krauss. Listen to "Above It All," for example. The album is more Nashville pop than Krauss (who isn't so pure either), but there's a lot of bluegrass in the arrangements. Good driving rhythm, sweet-and-sour twang, fine harmony, all with polished production.



Their PR has been aimed at younger folks, it seems, but Shauna and Tina Larkin weren't really that young by the time this CD was recorded, about 20 and 19. They had been performing on stage with their family band from ages 4 and 3. Here they're supported by other bluegrass and Nashville pros. The material they sing makes few concessions to age, though there aren't any "blood on the saddle" or "eighteen wheels, eighteen beers and eighteen women" songs. Nonpurist bluegrass lovers and country fans of any age should enjoy this."

Original, fresh country sound appealing to young audiences

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 07/31/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Music executives are always on the lookout for tomorrow's next stars. The Larkins, a dynamic duo from eastern Tennessee, clearly have the pizazz to reach phenomenal heights in a short time. In fact, they've already appeared on the Grand Ol' Opry twice and have shared the stage with big names in country music. One can't help but think of a couple young "Dixie Chicks" and a similar sound and stir they created some time ago. Twenty-one year old Shaunna Larkin plays the fiddle, and her younger sister, Tina, is the lead vocalist on this debut project that is sure to make a significant mark. Promo material indicates that Tina also plays mandolin, but Adam Steffey picks the eight strings here on four of the songs. Would've been nice if they had at least spelled Steffey's (and Bryan Sutton's) names correctly in the credits and liner notes. Bluegrassers will be familiar with Randy Kohr's dobro (eight tracks), Bryan Sutton's acoustic guitar (seven tracks), Scott Vestal's banjo (two cuts), and Aubrey Haynie's fiddle (one cut). When electric bass, piano, pedal steel, and drums are added to the mix, however, the pendulum swings much closer to country music than bluegrass. Nothing wrong with that, however, if your musical goal is to get Nashville's attention by presenting an original, unique and fresh sound that will appeal to a young record-buying fan base.One might remember this album's producer, Bruce Bouton, as the pedal steel guitarist who helped Ricky Skaggs reinvent his neo-traditional country music sound in the eighties. So are The Larkins the next generation and next bright hope for country music? It appears to me that they have the necessary energy, flash, musicianship, creativity, fresh material, youthful exuberance and support to succeed. Keep an eye on them in the years ahead as they continue to develop their musical maturity and business savy. Songs like "Lay Your Memory Down" and "One Without The Other" are hard-drivers, but the sisters also excel on a slower belly-rubber like "I Still Believed You Loved Me," the evocative "Go," and waltz-timed "Jesus, Daddy and You." My prediction is that the closer, "Kiss and Tell," will get considerable airplay and become one of their hits. These two beautiful young women were raised on music. Shaunna and Tina's father and uncles played in a touring bluegrass group. The girls began singing onstage at ages 3 and 4, and they took up fiddle and mandolin only a year or two later. Dolly Parton then took the sisters under her wing and provided encouragement. For the past eight years, The Larkin Family (dad, mom, and daughters) have performed regularly at Dollywood. On this album, "Steady As The Rain," was written by Parton, and she provides some background vocals only on this cut. Apparently, Dolly has also agreed to be part of The Larkins' video for this song. The time is ripe for Shaunna and Tina to take the spotlight for themselves, and blaze new trails, building on the best elements of their musical heritage and roots. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)"