Music Recommend

Artist: Emmylou Harris

Occupying the space next to Alison Krauss on the edge of country music (and on the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack, a bit more literally) is Emmylou Harris.

Nick Hornby here (http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2003/01/13hornby.html) called her "the best harmony vocalist in the history of pop music," and in the context of Ryan Adams' Oh My Sweet Carolina, I can scarcely disagree. Lovely.

She demonstrates the same on a strangely-difficult-to-laugh-at version of the popularized-as-an-awful-junior-high-slow-dance classic "Love Hurts" with Gram Parsons, which according to Wikipedia was recorded the year before Nazareth's more famous (#1 in Norway! Thanks, Wikipedia!) version.

Anyway, she blends well at least. I'm less convinced by some of her solo stuff, particularly her unfortunate "No Regrets (Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien)," a mostly-English cover of the Edith Piaf song. Her French pronunciation deteriorates throughout the track until I find it unbearable.

Still, for all the bitchiness contained above, I think she's worth exploring. I'd like to hear her sing more hymns; "Wayfaring Stranger" is my favorite of her solo tracks thus far. Still, I suppose I say that about every artist, so take it for what you will.

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