Record review: Emmylou Harris, "All I Intended to Be"

Emmylou Harris reinvented herself with 1995’s “Wrecking Ball,” moving to something more atmospheric and haunting than the traditional country genres she had explored for the previous 25 years. “All I Intended to Be” reunites Harris with Brian Ahern, the producer of many of her early albums, and features appearances from some of her old friends: Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, members of bluegrass’ Seldom Scene. It’s not exactly a return to her roots — it’s too somber and stately — but it nods in that direction with an emphasis on acoustic guitar, mandolin and steel.

Harris’ voice is, of course, impeccable on these 13 songs, five of which she wrote or co-wrote (the two with Kate and Anna McGarrigle are highlights). From Tracy Chapman’s “All That You Have Is Your Soul” to Merle Haggard’s “Kern River,” these are uniformly elegant ballads.