Parton shines in Hungry Again

Dolly Parton's voice has given life to some of country music's most beautiful songs: "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," and "I Will Always Love You."

But Parton is not just a voice. Her songwriting has also been noted for its honesty and frankness.

Parton's new album, her first in years, is a trip back to the days when her music was more pure and less corporate. Hungry Again brings the listener back to the time when Parton was just a young country singer from East Tennessee, making a name for herself in Nashville.

The album's title track is a song about rediscovering passion in a relationship, but Parton is singing about more than love. She is singing about her art. In the song she warns against remaining complacently in the "comfort zone."

To write the songs on the new album, Parton returned to her roots in the Smoky Mountains and wrote songs she herself has called personal and meaningful. She fasted and thought, writing more than 32 songs, 12 of which appear on the album. What emerges is a personal album that proves Parton is truly hungry again.

The album has a variety of songs. Parton includes several gospel songs, one which was recorded in her family's old church. The cut, "Shine On," is one of the album's highlights.

Other songs are signature Parton: ballads that showcase the artist's strong voice and skillful songwriting. "I Wanna Go Back There," "Time and Tears" and "I Still Lost You" are some of these.

A major theme of the album is also Parton's personal history. "Paradise Road" describes the strength of Parton's imagination when she was a child. She writes about how she escaped from the reality of poor Appalachian family life. "Paradise Road is a state of mind/ The sun shines warm and all the time," she sings.

The song "Blue Valley Songbird," which is the impetus for an upcoming TV movie about Parton's life, describes her departure from home as a young country music singer. "So at fifteen she took to the highway/Belongings and guitar in hand/ And she buried herself in her music/ The one thing she did understand," she sings.

The highlight of the album is the great kiss-off song, "The Salt of My Tears," which jingles like a number one hit.

All in all the album is a strong effort by Parton. She demonstrates her expertise as an experienced songwriter and singer while retaining the passion typical of a musical newcomer.