Better Day

Love it

Well now, what can I say - this is a truly remarkable set of recordings!!! The CD/album opens with the stomping track "In The Meantime" which tells the listener that we are living in good times and should enjoy life now. The message is clear in lines such as We've been livin' in the last days, ever since the first day which is Dolly's way of telling us - if we listen to some people, we would think the end is always near. This clever song manages to include words such as "nuclear holocaust" and "drop this doomsday attitude" and they rhyme with other lyrics - brilliant."Just Leaving" says Heaven Help Me, Lord You've Got An Angel Down - Dolly is leaving this old town in true blue tear filled emotion. There is a wonderful line in there that says I'm Talking Big For Someone So Small."Somebody's Missing You" is another sad little track which tells the person who has left that our Dolly really misses them and her heart is probably broken. Perhaps the person who has left in this song doesn't even know the singer is alive anymore.........."Together You & I" is of course the lead single from the album. Sadly, in the USA Dolly's newer music never seems to get airplay (and therefore exposure) to the giant country as much as it could. This track, although shipped to radio and media is much ignored. The song however, which I guess even fans in the UK and other parts of Europe will by now have hear it in one shape or another - is a bouncy and catch track. I love the line Paint A Pretty Rainbow Brushed With Love Across The Sky.Dolly wrote all the songs on this album and a country music singer/songwriter helped her out on the track "Country Is As Country Does". Mac Davis wrote the song with Dolly. This is a country hoe-down, line dancing, toe-shuffling track and you can't help but sing and even dance along to this. The song tells us that Dolly has never altered over the years - Nothing's Ever Changed me Yet, Nothin' Will - it's A Pretty Safe Bet and ...... It's The Way I Am And The Way I Wuz. The end of the song and Dolly tells us "I'm Country, but now that don't mean I can go to town, lol. Another excellent line - "I'm content with the way I am...and if you ain't, well, kiss my ham!!""Holding Everything" is a remarkable duet - when I'm kissing you, I'm Holding Everything..! It's a fantastic track which stirs up a lot of emotion and makes you want to keep turning the volume dial a little higher and higher. Dolly's "my heart beats" first words of the song are so smooth and warming - then the song takes on a different turn and it's truly magical.I think this is the best track on the album - "The Sacrifice". This is a very very cleverly written song and it's all about Dolly's climb from nothing to success. "I was gonna be rich no matter how much it cost, I's gonna win no matter how much I lost...... Rhinestones and Grimestones made up my life...you ask if it's worth the Sacrifice". This hopefully will go down one day as a historic and definative signaturwe tune for our Dolly.Anyone who has even had heartbreak, and been trampled and trampled and trampled into the ground by others or situations - this is the song they can identify with. "I Just Might" is the damaged soul that still shows a glimmer of hope and can't do anything else in life other than hope it "just might" go alright with one last effort. A very emotional and moving track."A Better Day" is a blues track. I think it's possibly the weakest song on the CD. It unfortunately sounds like a left over track from the patriotic album "For God & Country" - I guess there is always one song on any album that is the least preferrered. The blues theme of the song is ok but, not Dolly at her best."Shine Like The Sun" is wonderful - how can you not love this song!!!! It's all about someone who will shine and shine and shine once the clouds and the tears roll away. "And when the cryin's all done...I'm gonna shine like the sun". It's a moving on song about not being at the mercy of others and there is a line in there that is insprational - "and I have to swim shoreward lest I'd drown out here alone". One of the best songs on the CD.Sometimes in life people suffer more than they can take. Perhaps at the hands of an abusive or unfair sibling - "Get Out & Stay Out" tells the offender to get out and stay away. Need we say more. Dolly Rocks!!!!The whole album seems to fly by really fast - each and every offering is remarkable and a total joy to hear. The last song "Let Love Grow" is really great. Dolly is asking us to let love grow and grow and grow, and - why not? Apparently, we can find love on a mountain top or in the valley low and the best line in the song - "Love Can Fill The Empty Faces...Dry Our Tears and All Their Traces... Oh, and not forgetting "Hindsight's Always Out To Blind You..Look Ahead And Not behind You. Joe Skelly

I purchased this CD as a gift for my father, as we had attended Dolly Parton's concert at the 02 a year or so ago and loved it. My father has been a lifelong fan and so I wanted to add to his already extensive collection.This is a slight change from her usual style but one that is welcome and so I don't think that any Dolly fans will be disappointed with the new tracks.

My friend took her Mum to see Dolly at the O2 this year and on returning told me that her Mum said 'Dolly Rocks' - I thought she sang 'Country Music!' Anyway she asked if she could have this CD for Christmas (my friend - not her Mum!) so I bought her it. Hope she liked it.

Again Dolly at her best what a voice

Guft she loved it