Dolly Parton's outsized personality often gets in the way of her art. That's clearly the case on "Backwoods Barbie," her return to commercial country. Too many songs depend on cute, self-referential comments. And her fluttery twang has always been an acquired taste. But if you ignore the trappings and listen carefully, you can appreciate what a first-rate songwriter she is. The best number here is "The Lonesomes," a bluesy-jazzy piano ditty about a woman who is more lonesome tonight than that old Hank Williams song. This tune may not be a country hit for Dolly, but some jazz singer -- Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson or even Norah Jones -- could turn this into a standard.
JON BREAM
