Album Review: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, ‘The Traveling Kind’

by Kelly McCartney (@theKELword) for FolkAlley.com

Emmylou Harris makes magic with pretty much everyone she sings with, from Gram Parsons to Lyle Lovett. One of her most trusted sidekicks over the years, though, has been Rodney Crowell, and the two never fail to shimmer and shine as evidenced on ‘The Traveling Kind.’ Like they did on ‘Old Yellow Moon,’ Harris and Crowell harmonize on some tunes, hand off on others. Either way, they strike a natural balance and a beautiful chord. As always, Crowell provides the roots and Harris, the wings.

The lithesome title track opens the set with a mandolin-laced meandering through their individual yet shared experience of giving themselves and their lives over to the world through their music: “We were born to brave this tilted world with our hearts laid on the line. Be it way-crossed boy or red dirt girl, the song becomes the traveling kind.” Other highlights include “No Memories Hangin’ Around,” “You Can’t Say We Didn’t Try,” “Just Pleasing You,” and “Her Hair Was Red” — all of which could have been on almost any Harris or Crowell record of the past 40 years. From rootsy rockers and country croons, the songs here feel fairly old-fashioned, but never dated… timeless, to be sure. That’s a credit to both the compositions and the performances.

There’s nothing earth-shattering about ‘The Traveling Kind,’ because that’s not the point. What’s clear, though, is how much Harris and Crowell enjoy working together and how well they do it.

###

‘The Traveling Kind’ is out now on Nonesuch Records and available HERE.