The death of Royce Kendall in 1998 marked the end of one of country music's great duos, but daughter Jeannie carries on the vision and traditional spirit of the
Kendalls on her solo debut. (Dad appears on two lovely cuts: a heartfelt cover of Johnny Bond's country evergreen, "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight?," and a taut, moody tale of obsession, "Train of Thought.") Stylistically, the junior Kendall -- whose voice suggests that of another mountain gal who is aging gracefully, Dolly Parton -- navigates through bluegrass, country, and folk, accompanied by the likes of Union Station (on four cuts) and dobro masters
Rob Ickes and
Sonny Garrish. In Royce's absence, Jeannie has found some pretty fair vocal compatriots:
Alison Krauss gives "Old Friends" that haunting mountain feel;
Rhonda Vincent and her brother Darrin make multiple appearances (the latter does a heck of a job in the Royce role with an impassioned, deeply felt turn on "That's What Your Love Does to Me"); and
Allison Moorer adds an alluring second voice to the urgent choruses of the otherwise dirge-like country weeper, "Serious Doubt." Both Vincent and
Ricky Skaggs join Kendall in a tight triumvirate of harmony on the bluesy heartbreaker "Smoky Lonesome," and
Alan Jackson has a fantastic solo turn on a western swing–styled love song, "Timeless and True Love" (resurrected from a near-forgotten
McCarters album,
The Gift, from 1988). From the wrenching event that forged her solo career, Jeannie Kendall has fashioned a moving personal statement, straight from the heart, rich in roots sensibility, and deep as the mysteries its songs explore.
