Eilen Jewell - Butcher Holler: Tribute to Loretta Lynn

New England alt-country and Americana singer/songwriter Eilen Jewell pays tribute to groundbreaking country icon Loretta Lynn, a woman Jewell describes as "our national treasure", with the new Butcher Holler project arriving July 27 via Signature Sounds. "We pay homage to her humble roots and straightforward, hard-hitting performance style," say Jewell. "All of the songs in this collection were written by Lynn herself and are a testament not only to her strength as a songwriter but to her personal strength as well. In the 60's and 70's, Loretta Lynn dared to write songs about topics that were widely considered off-limits, especially for women. The fact that her words still hit a nerve today is proof of their timelessness."

Butcher Holler's twelve sharply delivered performances - nearly all under three minutes each - feature a handful of Lynn classic hits such as "Ain't Woman Enough (to Take My Man)" and "Don't Come Home Drinkin' (with Lovin' On Your Mind)", songs that helped define Lynn as a pioneer in music that praised strong-willed, confident women. Jewell also digs up lesser known tracks from the extensive Lynn songbook, presenting them with her own expressive vocals and backed by her fine longrunning band. The production is crisp and spare, with up-right bass, pedal steel and electric tremelo twang adding both timeless authenticity and surprisingly rootsy contemporary edge. Recommended.

Eilen Jewell - "Haunted House" (from the album Butcher Holler: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn)

Eilen Jewell - "Whispering Sea" (from the album Butcher Holler: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn)