All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Entertainment Weekly

In wedding bluegrass with the Appalachian sound of her youth, Parton, who wrote half of the material and reprises her classic ''Down From Dover,'' repeatedly explores her favorite theme -- romantic betrayal -- and turns in a powerful performance, augmented by the best of bluegrass' hot pickers

Read Full Review >

CDNow

Dolly Parton has at last returned to her musical home and, boy, are the neighbors ever grateful. That "home," of course, is Kentucky bluegrass music and the melancholy acoustic strains of the Appalachian Mountains.

Read Full Review >

PopMatters

Little Sparrow contains some of the most beautiful and affecting music Parton has ever made...

Read Full Review >

Rolling Stone

Surrounding herself with the cream of Southern bluegrass musicians -- dobro master Jerry Douglas and guitar prodigy Bryan Sutton among them -- Parton is by turns reflective ("Little Sparrow"), playful ("Marry Me"), dolorous ("My Blue Tears"), spirited ("I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby") and spiritual ("In the Sweet By and By") on this nearly hour-long modern-bluegrass tour de force.

Read Full Review >

Q Magazine

Little Sparrow mixes its trad tendencies with tunes, lovely instruments, and best of all, Parton's personality.

Read Full Review >

Launch.com

Her taste in cover material is slightly idiosyncratic, but that does nothing but add luster to the program...

Read Full Review >

Sonicnet

Little Sparrow captures one of country's greatest talents in top form, backed by some of the best acoustic players around...

Read Full Review >

Wall of Sound

Joined by a bevy of bluegrass talent, including Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, and Alison Krauss, Little Sparrow is a richly wrought, beautifully performed labor of love for Parton.

Read Full Review >

HOB.com

This of course is the power of mountain music, the weight it gives to simple instruments and simple folk, and for all of Parton's talents, singing in this medium may very well be her best.

Read Full Review >

Neumu.net

Little Sparrow proves that 1999's The Grass Is Green was no fleeting burst of inspiration; Parton hasn't been so consistently exciting since the '70s.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Kev W gave it a10:
You don't remotely need to be a Dolly Parton fan to love this -- anyone who appreciates appalacian or Bluegrass will love this (and maybe even if you don't). This is just a really good sample of early american music with a breath of fresh air.

v s gave it a9:
a beautiful bluegrass album, sorrowful, and raw in parts, joyful and silly in others. Strongly feminist in her own right, Dolly's haunting voice echos in this hymn to the different faces of love.

Edwin H gave it a10:
This is a fantastic album from Dolly and has her at her best. The pure clean sound and haunting melodies are sure to enchant. Highly recommended. +

Adam N gave it a 10:
This is her best album yet. I just look forward to what comes next.

Wayne A. gave it a 10:
After decades in the business, Dolly Parton has once more become one of the most artistically relevant musicians around. She seems to have hit a new career peak with her recent albums, including this gem. Unfortunately, the sad state of music today seems to prevent her latest albums from getting all the attention that they deserve. "Little Sparrow" is a must-have CD, along with her latest, "Halos & Horns." If you haven't already, pick them up!

Dirk K. gave it a 10:
Without doubt the most important country recording in eons. While her contemporaries are recording Diane Warren songs and adding enough Banjo,dobro and fiddle to pretent it's country, DollyParton brings us back to where it all began. A shimmering collection of celtic influenced Bluegrass, This is the masterwork from a woman who's career had spanned four decades. A must have for everyone, regardless of taste and genre lines. The fact that this album has not topped the country as well as the pop charts tells us the the most sad tale of all. This album need to be heard to be believed.

Pat G. gave it a 10:
As a longtime fan of Dolly, followed her from country to pop back to country and now to this new adventure, all I can say is this is Dolly at her absolute best. Her rendition of Collective Soul's "Shine" is amazing. She takes a pop-rock song and gives it brand new life. Check out the whole CD. You won't be disappointed.

Music

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Little Sparrow

Album Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases