Lee Ann Womack: Country, and proud of it

Womack

May 24, 2000
Web posted at: 4:03 p.m. EST (2003 GMT)

By Mary Jo DiLonardo
Special to CNN.com

Lee Ann Womack
"I Hope You Dance"
MCA

(CNN) -- For those who fear that country music -- real country music -- is headed the way of the spotted owl and snow leopard, Lee Ann Womack has thrown them a much-needed lifeline.

With an angelic warble that floats somewhere between Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss, Womack has been described as "Nashville at its most poetic and profound" by Music Row magazine. It's not difficult to understand why.

While Womack doesn't have the pop-star flash of some of her female country cohorts -- Faith Hill or Shania Twain come to mind -- she has a pure, radiant sound that is country to the core.

The album's title song is beautiful -- lyrically, instrumentally and vocally. "When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance," she sings. It's a simple message, a hopeful and profound one.

Lush string instrumentation and Womack's crystal vocals, backed with a haunting chorus courtesy of fellow Texas musicians Sons of the Desert, make it simply a stunning piece. Critics and fans already are lauding it as the record of Womack's career and a contender for song of the year.

	AUDIO
"I Feel Like I'm Forgetting Something" [205k MPEG-3] or [280k WAV] "The Healing Kind" [195k MPEG-3] or [270k WAV] "I Hope You Dance" [245k MPEG-3] or [3335k WAV] (Courtesy MCA Nashville)

Slow songs, delivered tenderly

That moving single is easily the record's highpoint, but the rest of the disc holds its own. The album is a compilation of mostly slow, haunting songs with an emotions ranging from exulting over great love to despairing a broken heart.

Womack delivers them all with a vulnerable, lilting tenderness that is very reminiscent of Parton in her early years. She also echoes the sweetness of Krauss' bluegrass soul.

An impressive collection of songwriters contributed, including Rodney Crowell, Don Schlitz and Bobbie Cryner. Womack, who has written songs on her two earlier releases, co-wrote "I Feel Like I'm Forgetting Something," the only upbeat, light-hearted song on this record.

Though relatively new to the country scene, Womack has already amassed an impressive collection of awards and nominations, including a bid for best female country vocalist honors at last year's Grammys.

Showing appreciation for Womack's pure country sound, Alan Jackson and George Strait chose her to sing harmony during their live performance of "Murder on Music Row" during the recent Academy of Country Music Awards show.

With that song, Strait and Jackson -- easily two of country's biggest and most traditional stars -- made their unhappiness with pop-country clear. The controversial, accusatory tune, replete with mournful fiddles and steel guitar and age-old country themes, laments the demise of true country music.

It's obvious why they chose Womack to join them on the song.

With her heartbreak vocals and refusal to sound even a teensy bit pop, the sweet-voiced singer offers traditionalists a smidgen of hope.

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Official Lee Ann Womack site
MCA Nashville

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