Pam Tillis: Thunder And Roses : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

While crossover divas like Faith Hill chirp bubbly odes to perfect love, Pam Tillis sings about what happens when the bubble bursts. Thunder and Roses, her first new release since 1998, is most definitely an adult album -- and Tillis seems to have shoehorned a lifetime of experience into every finely-crafted track. From the first-date jitters of an insecure single mom ("Please") to the thoughts of a second-time-around bride hoping for a fairytale ending ("Off White"), Thunder & Roses runs the gamut of issues that affect real, grown-up women. "Which Five Years" is a cautionary tale for those tempted to shave a few years off their ages, while the soulful "Jagged Hearts" reveals how two people burned by love can help heal each other. As the daughter of a country legend (Mel Tillis), Pam also pays tribute to her roots by bringing in her pop for a long-awaited duet, "Waiting On the Wind." The elder Tillis' voice is far from beautiful, but the track still charms. Unlike so many manufactured country duets, the emotions here ring true -- and so does this CD. (ANDREA DRESDALE)