Dolly rocks! A festival for guitar dealers.
According to official counting, ROCKSTAR is Dolly Parton’s 49th album. Not a round event, but it should still be a celebration: 30 songs. Rock songs. Recorded with the help of one of the longest guest lists in the history of the features. There’s someone on almost every track, but what does someone mean here: Elton John and Stevie Nicks, the two surviving Beatles and Debbie Harry, Steven Tyler and Lizzo. Nine pieces were created specifically for ROCKSTAR, the rest are Parton versions of standards, some with the original interpreters.
Dolly Parton’s spirit changed music, shaped the country industry, with great self-image, but also with political neutrality, knowing full well that a vote for one of the camps could end careers. ROCKSTAR also features Kid Rock, a Trump fan who shoots canned beer because the company runs a trans-friendly ad. The song sucks too.
Parton also sings “Wrecking Ball” with Miley Cyrus, the highlight alongside her version of “Purple Rain”. Anyway, the quiet stuff is enjoyable, especially because the guitar dealer rockisms don’t break through immediately. Anything that hits 12 immediately sounds exactly like the cover looks: horribly stereotypical. Soon album number 50 – Rick Rubin, please take over.