Search - Paulette Carlson :: It's About Time

Carlson's Timely Return Warrants A Well-Deserved Homecoming

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 06/27/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Only in Your Dreams, He's Funny That Way, That Old Glass Case



It's about time for her return -- after a 9 year hiatus, where she has chosen the venerable prerogative of raising a family -- Paulette Carlson's finally back. Vocally this petite blonde is still packed with emotions when she croons a ballad and when she rocks she still can cause barns to be ablazed. And, despite the fact that country music has gone through transformational maelstroms led by the assault of pop and rap that shook its identity at its core, Carlson's new CD still comes across as if time has not changed. With a throwback to the days when she was heading the multiple-number-one group Highway 101, "It's About Time" still relies on those wonderful rustic rudiments such as steel guitars, fiddles and piano to parlay these newly recorded 12 paeans. However, with "It's About Time," Carlson makes two departures. Instead of relying on the scribes at Music Row, Carlson has penned 10 out of the 12 cuts. Further, she has chosen to helm the album by herself, a fleet she has had never done before.



Most ambitious among this oeuvre is the heart wrenching ballad "That Old Glass Case," a story song that finds echoes with Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors." Here Carlson waxes nostalgia about her deceased parents incurred via an old glass case, a priced family heirloom. Though it is easy to give in the tooth-decaying mawkishness on such songs, but Carlson redeems this track with the way she caresses each note with care dripped with emotions. Also, in the inspirational mode is "Rejoice for the Moment," a ode to carpe diem in the lyrically alley of Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," though it lacks the urgency of McGraw's hit. And when inspiration turns to patriotism, a couple is represented here: lead single "Thank You Vets" is a slice of personal tribute Carlson wrote in remembrance of her brother who died in the Vietnam War. Though the sentiments are to be commended, but the marching drums sounds trite; a simpler backing would be more effective. While "She Rides for the Brand" offers a graphic narrative perspective of the agonizing toil of war on the families of the vets.



Lest one gets the impression that this is an inspirational CD, the songs that deal with romance abound. The choice cut here being the exhilaratingly upbeat "He's Funny That Way" where Carlson provides a litany of why her man is indispensable. Surrounding herself with a wall of wailing fiddles, Carlson bears her heart on the hurt-drenched "Only in My Dreams," this is stuff the heart is proud of. "Twenty Years Ago" and "My Love is in America" are the only non-Carlson penned tracks. Of which, the former was a Kenny Rogers' hit which Carlson's version strips this ballad from Rogers' 80s pop synth-feel. But the latter, "My Love is in America," is a offbeat ballad that suffers too much from some unfortunate chord progressions thus diffusing the melody as a result.



Though Carlson's return is much anticipated, there is a feeling that such a return was a little rushed as far as the song selection of the CD is concerned. There's nothing that really jumps out that spells "hit" all over. Neither is there an entry that will etch into the listener's conscience the way "(Do You Love Me) Just Say Yes" or "I'll Start With You" had on listeners those years ago. Nevertheless, there are enough good tunes to warrant one's listening time. In short, this is a timely return that deserves one's endorsement."