Rhinestoned (CD - 2007)

Personnel: Pam Tillis (background vocals); Pam Tillis; Dan Dubmore (steel guitar); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); Sam Bush (mandolin); Aubrey Hanie (fiddle); Kevin McKendree (piano, harpsichord, Hammond b-3 organ); John Jarvis (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Steve Mackey (bass guitar); Lona Heid, Mary Ann Kennedy, Pamela Rose, Wes Hightower (background vocals); Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin); Steven Sheehan (acoustic guitar, banjo); Russ Pahl (electric guitar, dobro); Patrick Buchanon (electric guitar, harmonica); J.T. Corenflos (electric guitar); Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, fiddle); Dan Dugmore (mandolin); Jim Hoke (pennywhistle, harmonica, accordion, clarinet); Michael Rhodes (bass guitar); Eddie Bayers, Steve Brewster (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Liam Heims (unknown instrument); Lona Heins, Carrie April Tillis, Kristen Gartner, Mel Tillis Jr. (background vocals); Mary Ann Kennedy, Pamela Rose, Wes Hightower.

Recording information: Mystic Studios; Soun Emporium Studios.

Photographer: Matt Spicher.

Pam Tillis has always been more of a hard-country singer than most of her female vocalist contemporaries, closer in spirit to Kitty Wells or Loretta Lynn than to the pop-oriented likes of Faith Hill. RHINESTONED is a typically excellent set of sassy pure-country tunes, including the uptempo honky-tonkers "Down By The Water" and "Band in the Window," as well as the weepy ballad "Someone Somewhere Tonight" and the aching but lovely "Train Without A Whistle." The arrangements are slick but tasteful, with plenty of traditional acoustic instrumentation and very few feints towards the flash of country radio. An underrated singer whose artistry remains undimmed, Pam Tillis delivers another fine set. minimize