Life has Changed us Around (featuring Jon Anderson)
Someone, Somewhere Tonight
Down by the Water
Crazy by Myself
Bettin' Money on Love
That was a Heartache
The Hard Way
Over My Head
With career sales topping 5 million units, multiple Grammy award winner Pam Tillis returns with Rhinestoned, her first studio release in almost 5 years following 2002's critically acclaimed "It's All Relative, a Tribute... more » to Mel Tillis." Co-produced by Tillis herself and veteran writer/producer Gary Nicholson (Delbert McClinton, The Judds, Wynonna). Rhinestoned resonates with the same heartfelt and dynamic vocals that made Pam a staple at country radio and one of the genre's most enduring and identifiable artists. Tillis continues to revel in her role as an interpreter of timeless country songs. Rhinestoned features many of Nashville's finest songwriters, including Matraca Berg, Walt Wilkins, Leslie Satcher, Jon Randall, Gary Nicholson and Pam herself. Stepping out of the confines of today's slick and calculated country music, Tillis surrounded herself in the studio with a bevy of cool talent, including mixing engineer Ray Kennedy (Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams). Pam opts for the emotional immediacy of a studio record recorded mostly "direct to disc"... just pure, uninhibited moments. On Rhinestoned, neo-traditionalist Pam Tillis draws inspiration from her love of folk, bluegrass, roots and traditional country and invites the listener to walk with her across the bridge of Country Music's Past and Country Music's Future.« less
With career sales topping 5 million units, multiple Grammy award winner Pam Tillis returns with Rhinestoned, her first studio release in almost 5 years following 2002's critically acclaimed "It's All Relative, a Tribute to Mel Tillis." Co-produced by Tillis herself and veteran writer/producer Gary Nicholson (Delbert McClinton, The Judds, Wynonna). Rhinestoned resonates with the same heartfelt and dynamic vocals that made Pam a staple at country radio and one of the genre's most enduring and identifiable artists. Tillis continues to revel in her role as an interpreter of timeless country songs. Rhinestoned features many of Nashville's finest songwriters, including Matraca Berg, Walt Wilkins, Leslie Satcher, Jon Randall, Gary Nicholson and Pam herself. Stepping out of the confines of today's slick and calculated country music, Tillis surrounded herself in the studio with a bevy of cool talent, including mixing engineer Ray Kennedy (Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams). Pam opts for the emotional immediacy of a studio record recorded mostly "direct to disc"... just pure, uninhibited moments. On Rhinestoned, neo-traditionalist Pam Tillis draws inspiration from her love of folk, bluegrass, roots and traditional country and invites the listener to walk with her across the bridge of Country Music's Past and Country Music's Future.
CD Reviews
A creative and impressionable set of reality music
J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 04/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Playing Time - 44:52 -- Born in 1957, the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis first appeared at the Ryman Auditorium when she was just eight years old. Now she's on the list of top female country singers of all time. Drawing material from many influences, Pam's always been known for incorporating pop, rock, bluegrass, folk and other influences into her country. For example, acoustic stringsters like Bryan Sutton, Sam Bush, Aubrey Haynie, Steven Sheehan and Jonathan Yudkin add a few tasty bluegrass flavorings to the mix that primarily emphasizes electric guitar, bass, piano, organ and drums. Pam's own composition, "Life Has Sure Changed Us Around" is a tongue-in-cheek statement sung with John Anderson in one of the more acoustic arrangements.
For a Texas rockabilly beat with some understated banjo, John Armenti's "Down by the Water" is just the ticket. Jim Hoke's clarinet and harmonica impart an old-time jazz sensibility to "Crazy By Myself." The talking blues storyline of "Bettin' Money on Love" evolves into a cautionary tale about taking chances, making choices, winding up hurting, and spending a little fortune on love. Anyone who's ever played or partied in the country honky-tonks will be able to relate to the story of Red, Louise and Tommy in "Band in the Window." Drawn to trouble and courting disaster, Pam's own self-penned "The Hard Way" is an expressive statement as she sings "I love to play with matches `tho I have to walk through fire." Bluegrass and Celtic instrumental flavorings of banjo, mandolin and pennywhistle close the set in "Over My Head."
It's been a few years since Pam released her "Thunder and Roses" and "It's All Relative" projects. "Rhinestoned" is a thoughtful and eclectic set of well-arranged songs that beats with the rhythm of her country heart and tender soul. Her traditional sensitivity comes through front and center. The result is a creative and impressionable set of reality music. It's refreshing to hear songs arranged, with stellar musicianship, around vibrant, colorful and sincere messages and stories. Right on, Pam! (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
"
A voice matured like a classic wine.
K. Connell | Albury NSW Australia | 05/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The voice has matured like a classic wine and from the opening bars of "Something Burning Out" it captures the ear and the emotion. Tilli takes us on a journey through the powerful "Train without a Whistle", the out there "Crazy by Myself" and her own "The Hard Way". Unlike a classic wine you can consume more and more of this CD without getting a hangover!"
Terrific Tillis!
tides24 | West Seneca, NY USA | 04/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've always been a big Pam Tillis fan. Her voice is one of the most unique in Country Music, and she sure knows how to sell a song. She's outdone herself here. This may be one of her best albums ever. She's singing better than ever, and she makes you believe every word. "Train Without A Whistle" and "Someone Somewhere Tonight" will break your heart. "Bettin' Money on Love" and "Crazy By Myself" will have you grinning. And the duet wih John Anderson, "Life Sure Has Changed Us Around" is a classic. Kudos to the musicians, as well. There's some great playing on this album. It's all just wonderfully done. If you like Country Music, you owe it to yourself to check out "Rhinestoned". It's the real deal."
No, They're Diamonds...
Mark D. Prouse | Riverdale (Bronx), NY | 09/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Immediately, we get a drop-dead gorgeous ballad, "Something Burning Out." No stopping Pam Tillis, whose just shown us with her last album, IT'S ALL RELATIVE, the tribute to father Mel, that this artist is not nearly ready to be written off. Like the previous one, RHINESTONED is a superb country record with lots of heart and varied rhythms, styles and even genres. The duet with John Anderson is lots of fun, and they're great together. My favorite has shaken out to be "Down By The Water," a fast and catchy folk/rock song. Pam has succeeded again at telling great stories, and singing with a clearly engaged voice. We believe every word. In songs like "Train Without A Whistle," "Crazy By Myself" and "Bettin' Money On Our Love," we get vividly etched portraits of people and the singer herself. The playing on this album is just about perfect throughout. Other reviewers have given the details, but my conclusion is that Pam Tillis continues to be a valuable force in country music who doesn't need to be packaged or pitch-corrected. This woman can sing, but she's not a showoff. In another singer's hands, Pam's own "The Hard Way" might have been histrionic or maudlin. Instead, entirely due to Pam's relaxed phrasing and straightforward singing, this song is poignantly beautiful; Tillis has never sounded better, but she lets everyone shine, one sign of a seasoned artist at the top of her game, free to do whatever she wants to do, and welcoming everyone along for the ride. As a songwriter, Pam Tillis holds her own with the other writers whose songs she's chosen. Rhinestoned? No, these are polished gems."
As Good As It Gets
Nate | Carlisle, PA | 05/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Pam Tillis is the real deal. She is a living legend and in my opinion one of the most important and talented female artists in country music. Tillis doesn't make records in hopes of just being played on the radio, she makes records that mean something to her and to her fans. You will not be disappointed with the album. Nashville needs to open it's ears to this and not all the junk that is being played on country radio. This is one of Pam's best records ever!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1