Something New From Emmylou

Released on this day in 1995, Emmylou Harris' Wrecking Ball represents a bold departure from the country-folk sound she had become known for throughout her career. Produced by Daniel Lanois, who is known for his atmospheric production work with U2 and Bob Dylan, the album features a dense, textured sonic landscape that contrasts sharply with the more traditional arrangements of Harris’ earlier work. It’s still a favorite of mine and it’s today’s feature on Dave’s Mixtape.

The album blends elements of folk, rock, ambient, and alternative country, creating a haunting, ethereal sound that was unlike anything Harris had previously recorded. Her voice is often layered with reverb, surrounded by swirling guitars and ambient effects, giving the record a sense of weight and mystery.

In comparison to her earlier work, such as  1975’s Pieces of the Sky (which is also amazing) and Elite Hotel from 1976, Wrecking Ball showcases a more experimental and reflective side of Harris. Her earlier albums were deeply rooted in traditional country and folk, characterized by clean production, clear acoustic instrumentation, and her pristine, lilting vocals. These albums often focused on storytelling and the emotional landscapes of country life, filled with love, loss, and longing. Wrecking Ball, however, uses abstraction, atmosphere, and the unexpected to communicate its emotional depths.

The songs that Harris and Lanois selected delve into more introspective and existential themes, exploring loss, change, and the passage of time in a way that feels deeply personal and often spiritual. The title track, penned by Neil Young, as well as songs by Jimi Hendrix (“May This Be Love”) and Steve Earle (the hauntingly beautiful “Goodbye”), provide Harris with a diverse and poignant canvas to explore darker emotional terrain. Harris has moved beyond the confines of traditional country narratives, instead embracing a more universal and ambiguous sense of yearning and struggle.

Wrecking Ball is my favorite Harris album and it stands as a transformative moment in her career. The album serves as an opening of the door to new sonic territories and cementing her as an artist unafraid of reinvention.