With a name like
Lee Ann Womack, one is bound to become a country music singer. Likewise, when the inevitable happens and one becomes as famous as
Womack, one is bound to inspire tributes of one type or another.
Pickin' on Lee Ann Womack: A Bluegrass Tribute offers a bluegrass tribute to the honky tonk princess, and may be just the ticket for those trying to fill the gap as they wait for her next album. Even a cursory glance at titles like "I Feel Like I'm Forgetting Something" and "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" will bring a tear to the eye of the most hard-hearted country boy and girl. The instrumental arrangements are mostly acoustic, featuring guitar, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, and a bit of harmonica. Half of the tracks have been recorded by Dennis Caplinger with a little help from accordion player Sharon Soldi; the other half, by
Randy Hunter and
Rollin' in the Hay. While most of the instrumental work is less than exciting, versions of "Why They Call It Falling" and "I Hope You Dance" are much better than what one might expect from Muzak supermarket music. Whether the
Womack fan will let these mellow instrumentals rest quietly in the background or use them as a launching pad for their own vocal renditions will be a purely personal choice. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.