The gentle hand of Emmylou Harris guides this tribute to ill-fated country-rock avatar Gram Parsons, which goes a long way toward explaining why this star-studded salute avoids the pitfalls that befall many such projects.

The concept of an alternative country movement ("country-rock" in the '70s; "alt-country" in the current vernacular) didn't spring from one man--not quite. But Gram Parsons really did create a unique aesthetic (a love for the traditional combined with a restless, edgy spirit) that faded after his death in the early '70s, only to resurface in the '80s (as cowpunk) and the '90s (as alt-country). This lovingly assembled tribute, which old partner Emmylou Harris oversaw as executive producer, features Parsons progeny ranging from Beck to Wilco to Lucinda Williams.

Check out free downloadable tracks--Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow's "Juanita," and the Mavericks' "Hot Burrito #1"--at www.amazon.com/music-downloads

More on Country Music here:
www.GuitarSite.com/country.htm

also see the About.com Country Music site:
countrymusic.about.com (formerly the Mining Co.)
includes daily country music news, sites, tour schedules

or look at Billboards Hot Country Singles:
la.yahoo.com/external/hollywood/country_singles.html

You've read this far, so I guess you're interested in country music? Well, now you can win a Leighton Watts CD by going to the Deana Carter entry in the 2000 Guitars Database: www.GuitarSite.com/database/Bands/Artists/rec/198
then tell me the title track from her debut album. Send your details & answer to: GNW-Editor@hitsquad.com

Find out about Leighton here:
www.leightonbwatts.com