Dolly Parton's 61st full-length album captures the freshness and vibrancy of the mountain music known as bluegrass. "The Grass is Blue" is a superb collection of swift, rambunctious tunes and soft, gentle melodies meshed together by genius instrumentation and Dolly's exquisite vocal style. From the rowdy opening cover of Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer" to the elegant a capella closing of "I'm Ready," the disc offers 13 delectable slices of heaven. Gathered together are the premiere artists of the genre - top pickers Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush and Stuart Duncan to name a few plus the harmonies of Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless and others - with one of America's true musical treasures belting out some sorrowful "high lonesome sound." Other pick tracks include the steamrolling "Train, Train," a mournful "Silver Dagger," the humorous "I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open" and Dolly originals "Will He Be Waiting For Me," "Steady as the Rain" and the title cut. "The Grass is Blue," released on Sugar Hill Records and Dolly's own Blue Eye Records, is a true gift for her fans and enough to transport even a hard core rock fanatic into bliss in the hills of Kentucky.

Let me start by saying that I don't normally like bluegrass, country or Dolly even if I can appreciate the artistry behind them. That said, I must also say that this album is easily one of the best of 1999. I fell in love with the songs, lyrically and muscially. The music was perfectly performed and Ms. Parton's voice was the perfect compliment. She has mastered the art of singing and telling stories. She packs emotion into her voice without effort and brings the songs to life. I actually got teary eyed during what I feel is the best song on the album, "Silver Dagger", which takes the voice of a young woman telling her beloved that she can't marry him and she will sleep alone forever because of her mother's warnings. There's a really good mix of love songs and stories. A sense of humor also flits through the album. Parton even pulls a perfect reversal of the old "he done me wrong" song, singing in the voice of a woman who left a man and later realizes he was the one and is on her way back to him, wondering if he has waited for her. Do yourself a favor and buy this album. Don't think of it as a bluegrass album or a country album or as another Dolly Parton album. Think of it as the opportunity to hear a masterwork, the apex of someone's career. It is truly a wonderful collection of songs that will catch both your mind and your heart up with their rhythm and voice. Congrats Ms. Parton, you've won a new fan.

When a friend's e-mail said, "You have to get the new Dolly Parton album," I wrote back, "I don't see how, in 1999, a Dolly Parton album could anything but beside the point." Well, I'll take that big plate of crow I have to eat fried, please. This is astonishingly good. Every note from everyone is completely right, utterly heartfelt. All made by humans, all in real time on real instruments. Name another album you can say that about in the last five years. And I fear that "Silver Dagger" will haunt my days and nights for eternity. Dolly is a national treasure!

AS A TRUE DOLLY PARTON FAN, AND ALSO A BLUEGRASS MUSIC FAN. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WISH TO HAVE SONGS DONE BY MISS DOLLY IN BLUEGRASS FORM. I HAVE ENJOYED MOST ALL OF THE MUSIC SHE HAS DONE IN HER CARREER, BUT CAN SAY THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT MY FAVORITE. THE TEAMING OF HER VOICE WITH THE WONDERFUL HARMONIES, AND MUSICIANSHIP, OF THESE OTHER (GREAT IN THERE OWN RESPECTS) ARTISTS, WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. I PURCHASED THIS ON THE RELEASE DATE, AND HAVE LISTENED TO IT ALMOST EVERY DAY SINCE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANY DOLLY FAN, OR BLUEGRASS FAN LOOKING FOR GREAT MUSIC.

Dolly surprised everyone with this album. Just recently Dolly had been let go as a result of Decca's closure, and she wasnt signed to MCA like many of the old Decca artists were, so Dolly decided to go independant. This is the best bluegrass cd ever. Dolly does a lot of old favorites and some new ones. From the album starter Traveling Prayer to the album's accapella closer, I Am Ready, Dolly covers a lot of ground here. Highlights include A Few Old Memories, Silver Dagger, Endless Stream of Tears, Cash on the Barrelhead, my favorite though is Traveling Prayer. You gotta get this one, be amazed like the rest of us. This is pure gold.