JIM LAUDERDALE
Headed For The Hills (Dualtone)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

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As much as I wanted to really dig in and enjoy Jim Lauderdale's new Headed For The Hills there was something amiss with it from the get out. Musically Lauderdale brings nothing short of fantastic country and bluegrass tunes, his style grows more energizing as the album runs on, but lyrically there isn't much to cheer for. The album's first song, "High Timberline," can't seem to get out of its own way, repetitive and simplistic to a fault, as is "Sandy Ford (Barbara Lee)." Lauderdale is great at bringing in harmony vocalists for compliment (Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and Allison Moorer to name a few) but the addition of a second voice doesn't necessarily make for a great record.

© 2004 - Erick Mertz