|
Austin Live Music >
Austin Bands >A >Alison Krauss & Union Station
Lonely Runs Both Ways
|
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
At once Kicky and Melancholy at 2006-04-01
This was my introduction to Alison Krauss and Union Station. I have to say I was not disappointed. The music is Great! Some tracks are Kicky and upbeat, some so sad and melancholy they make my heart bleed. Just what I want out of a cd. I love this CD and would recommend it to everyone.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
The Voice of an Angel at 2006-06-30
Fabulous! Which ever reviewer it was who said Alison Krauss has the voice of an angel was absolutely right - her singing can send you soaring in the sky, in Goodbye Is All We Have - and have your heart aching for what could have been, as in If I Didnt Know Any Better. Matched with marvellous instrumentals and back ups from Union Station, this recording richly deserved its awards and more. I listen to it over and over and find something new and fresh every time.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Album of the Year Shows AKUS Undeniable Gift for Arrangement and Delivery at 2006-05-15
Lonely Runs Both Ways is, arguably, the groups best disc to date. Already on a tear since So Long, So Wrong, Alison and company have kicked it up a notch with New Favorite and now this collection which showcases and obvious gift for picking well written songs and delivering them with incomparable arrangements. Along those lines, it is clear that the additon of Jerry Douglas has made this group much much better than they already were. Douglas is the best Dobro player alive his playing adds a depth and breadth (as well as, dare we utter these words with regards to a bluegrass act, contemporary streak)to the bands arrangements that was somewhat missing before. Overall, LRBR showcases what has always been true about the band...that you can hear the songs over and over and still discover something new. The complex, multilayered instrumentation always suprises, from Tyminskis guitar and Alisons vocals, to Douglas aforementioned talents and seems newer over time than some other music. Looking at the songs from a content perspective, the group continues to excel when they pick songs that explore the part of life that resides under a rain cloud rather than the sun. This is a personal bias in part, but also because Alisons voice probably fits better with lower key type numbers (something that the continued affinity for Robert Lee Castleman tunes, begun with New Favorite, lends itself to). Standout tracks abound in no particular order---Crazy as Me, Doesnt Have to Be this Way, Gravity, If I Didnt Know Any Better, Restless, Wouldnt Be So Bad.Gravity is, plain and simple, one of the better written songs I have heard in years and Doesnt Have to Be This Way is unique in that is can be sung with more of an angry streak or sorrowful one. Of course, the group is a democracy and there are more traditional tracks which are carried by the guys, but even those are above average though not my personal favorites.Ultimately, as less a bluegrass fan and more a AKUS fan, I find myself drawn to less bluegrassy tracks. On the other hand, that has always been what has made the group a (bad word coming) crossover more than anyone else in their genre. Traditionalists whine because Alison continues to cut songs with drums in them and actually uses a studio and modern editing. I find that to be absurd. Alison Krauss and Union Station continues to record some of the finest MUSIC and finest SONGS in any genre over the last 15 years and continue to get better with age. It is my hope that this lineup lasts a very long time because if this disc is any sign, they are only getting better. Lonely Runs Both Ways is most certainly the groups finest effort to date and well worthy of the Grammy for Country Album of the Year.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Im 22 and I love heavy metal..............go figure. at 2006-07-20
Let me start off by telling you alternative metal is my favorite style of music. I enjoy bands like Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Evanecence, and Linkin Park. I got into country when I started working with my uncle, cause he really liked country. Some songs I enjoyed some I didnt. I really liked the song she did with Brad Paisley. So I bought his album.....then I bought this album. I was blown away bye her voice. Its great. This is one of the best albums I own....I own close to 400 cds. I dont mean to get all cheesy and stuff....but every time I listen to this album I get chills. Her songs are so full of soul. It amazes me that a voice can be so breathy and light , but still have so much depth. Its good stuff. Its a one in a million album. The quality is superb. Ive never heard a voice quite like this. Ill be a fan of hers for a long time to come.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Frustrated again at 2006-07-04
Another sweet recording from one of the most talented individuals anywhere. Will someone please show the door to the musicians who continue to ruin the beautiful and trancendant nature of Ms. Krauss gorgeous work with what can only be referred to as hillbilly hoedown tracks. I will not buy another album that exhibits such a dramatic dual personality. Unfortunately it has become the norm from Ms. Krauss and one must assume she has artistic control of albums bearing her name.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Editorial:
GRAMMY WINNER FOR BEST COUNTRY ALBUM BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP AND BEST COUNTRY INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE. PLonely Runs Both Ways is the highly anticipated new studio album from the worlds finest purveyors of Bluegrass Alison Krauss and Union Station. Featuring instant classics such as Wouldnt Be So Bad Goodbye Is All We Have and the lead single Restless Lonely Runs Both Ways is another unforgettable collection of songs from this multiple Grammy-winning act.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Editorial:
Nobody makes somber sound more exquisite than Alison Krauss. Shes come an awfully long way from her days as a teenage fiddle prodigy as her glamour gown on this CDs cover suggests and the bittersweet maturity of the music confirms. Krauss exchanges her bluegrass fiddle for the chamber strains of viola on much of the material including four songs by Robert Lee Castleman (whose The Lucky One Let Me Touch You for Awhile and Forget About It were previously popularized by Krauss). Castlemans compositions showcase the emotional intimacy and interpretive subtlety of her breathy trill. The yearning harmonies on Wouldnt Be So Bad (written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings) and Borderline (written by Sidney and Suzanne Cox) reinforce the albums restless spirit of quiet desperation. Change-of-pace contributions by Krausss bandmates are more deeply rooted in the bluegrass/folk tradition with Dan Tyminski renewing Del McCourys Rain Please Go Away and Woody Guthries populist anthem Pastures of Plenty; Dobro master Jerry Douglas leads the charge on his instrumental Unionhouse Branch. Few bands in bluegrass can match the virtuosity of Union Stations interplay but the artistry of Alison Krauss transcends genre. Don McLeesep span class=h1strongRecommended Alison Krauss Union Station Discography/strong/span table cellpadding=4 border=0 width=100% cellspacing=4p tr class=tiny valign=top align=center td img border=0 src=http:/mages.amazon.commages/P/B0000002ME.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpgbrINow That Ive Found You: A Collection/tdp td img border=0 src=http:/mages.amazon.commages/P/B0000002J9.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpgbrITwo Highways/tdp td img border=0 src=http:/mages.amazon.commages/P/B0000002JR.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpgbrIIve Got That Old Feeling/td /trp tr class=tiny valign=top align=center td img border=0 src=http:/mages.amazon.commages/P/B00006LLLN.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpgbrILive/tdp td img border=0 src=http:/mages.amazon.commages/P/B00000JMCL.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpgbrIForget About It/tdp td img border=0 src=http:/mages.amazon.commages/P/B0000002O5.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpgbrISo Long So Wrong/td /tr /table p
|
Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live (Multichannel Hybrid SACD)
|
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Wow! The best SACD yet! at 2003-06-11
This CD sounds beautiful!! Even if you overlook the fact that Alison Krauss sings like a angel and Union Station has some of the most talented musicians in the world, this CD is still a wonderful recording. And the best part is that its a hybrid which means I can listen to it in the car too. If ever there was a reason to get an SACD player, though, its this album.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Excellent Disc and SACD Implementation at 2003-06-19
As an AKUS fan I already had much of the music on this disc so my purchasing it was as my first exposure to the SACD format. The multichannel production is primarily stereo with center and rear channels providing ambient echo. Im still learning about SACD and its differneces over CD (PCM) are subtle. Music (vocals in particular) are warmer and more realistic. The edge present in CD recordings seems softer. Details (subtle notes, whispers, etc) are heard more distinctly. Alisons fine voice and the instruments of Union Station really do the SACD format justice. Alison begans the track Down to the River acapella. With only her voice to be heard I realized how good SACD can be. Her singing on the track is simply the most realistic recording I have ever heard come through my speakers. Beautiful group and lead singer - beautiful sounding recording
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
For audiophiles and music lovers at 2005-12-19
For the audiophiles: Among my favorite SACDs. I listen to the SACD stereo layer on a quality headphone rig, and this recording is very-well done, clear, natural, balanced, and very well-mixed. In fact, I prefer it to her SACD New Favorite, both in performance and recording playback. The performance, mixing, and recording quality is among the best of live albums that Ive heard, and is better than most of the studio recordings I own. Worthy of the SACD format, and of high-quality playback hardware. A good disc for demonstrating your system. Note: I have not listened to the 5.1 layer.For the Music Lovers: This album really grew on me quickly and is now one of my favorite albums. Alisons vocal abilities are stunning; her abilities are exemplified even more clearly when you consider that this is a live album. bluegrass/country music collector or not, anyone willing to appreciate the top offerings in a genre will likely enjoy this album. It would be hard to not acknowledge the mastery of musicianship, vocals, and selection of songs.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
BEAUTIFUL at 2003-10-30
Ill second the 2 previous reviews before mine, and just add the following: I have recently gotten into SACD, and there is no benchmark as to the subtle or heavy (or anything in-between) use of the surround speakers, so be aware that most SACDs sound different from their brethren, the mix being left to the individual engineer. That said, I now have about 40 SACDs, and I must say the subtle use of surrounds for live ambience in this 2-disc set is simply beautiful. The front speakers carry a clean, in-your-face, startlingly real vocal and instrumental palette (the harmonies most noticeably dripping like aural honey)that will take you aback!! The surrounds then complete the realism by putting you about row 5 center in the mix. Other SACDs (ie, Pink Floyds Dark Side of the Moon, Peter Gabriels Up) make much more use of the surrounds, with different sounds coming from 4-5 distinctly different speakers, and this works marvelously in those cases. The more subtle use of surrounds for the Alison Krauss disc shows the engineers savvy, and works most beautifully for this disc. You will be amazed!!
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Crystal Clear must have MC SACD! at 2005-10-08
This a review of the 5.1 SACD version. Wow! Great songs and wonderful performances combined with superb recording! The sound on this 2 disc set is perfect. Beautiful mix, with nice, wide sound stage, and all instruments at the right volume level. This is why I invested in a good surround system. Of course, this is presented from the audience perspective with the instruments up front, while letting the surround speakers add just the right amount of natural ambience and space. I might buy the DVD Video/DTS version just to compare, but the audio recording presented here is sublime. The audience is super respectful, giving applause when called for, and giving silence when called for too, so that you dont miss one beautiful note. This was easily worth the investment, especially for 2 discs. If you are an Alison Krauss and Union Station fan you have the choice of this, in uncompressed high resolution audio, or you could get the DVD video/DTS version, which Ive read is also great. If you are a gear head and want something to show off your new audio system, this will delight your ears and bring tears to your eyes. Highest recommendation!
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Editorial:
This two-CD 25-song set recorded in Louisville on two nights in the spring of 2002 finds bluegrasss most celebrated crossover band at the top of its game. Krausss warm feathery vocals capable of conveying complex emotions in a single note appear more full-bodied than in studio recordings yet lose none of their sensual appeal or dramatic tension. Shes perfect for example as the melancholy temptress on Let Me Touch You for Awhile coming across as both savior and seductress while Jerry Douglass Dobro echoes the searing strains of passion and pain. With banjoist-guitarist Ron Block bassist Barry Bales and guest drummer Larry Atamanuik anchoring the rhythm the ensemble deftly blends bluegrass with jazz rock and folk combining lightning speed (though rushing through Forget About It) with sophisticated chops tangible emotion and thrilling vocal blends. The crowd more spellbound with every note doesnt even breathe on Ghost in This House and nearly tears the place down on Dan Tyminskis voice-of-George Clooney showcase I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow. But who could blame them? Its only one highlight on an album of uncommon artistry a moving testament to how good live music can be in the hands of world-class players. Alanna Nash
|
Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live
|
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
A must have at 2006-07-11
For any country-music-lover out there this is a must have album. Full-packed with great songs, and they play them so well live so you barely notice any difference with the studio tracks on other cds. Hard to say any particular best song on this there are many great songs.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
I LOVE IT! at 2006-07-09
I never got into bluegrass, untill I bought this for my wife as a gift. I figured she would be the only one to watch it. WRONG this DVD is awesome we are both hooked and have been buying AKUS stuff every chance we get.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
The best introduction to bluegrass. at 2006-06-13
Bluegrass music has a great heritage, drawing from the same sources as blues and jazz. In fact, bluegrass is more like those improvisational styles than to country, a fact unrecognized by many. Still, the image bluegrass evokes in most folks is twangy, out of tune and jingly music. That is unfortunate. Allison Krauss and Union Station have more Grammy awards than any other female artist or bluegrass artist in history. Their musicianship is unparalleled, their intonation flawless, their arrangements are mature. But they do play dobro, fiddle, banjo, upright bass, mandolin and guitar. And they do pay homage to the fathers of bluegrass, Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley. This album and DVD won Grammys, including one for Best Bluegrass instrumental recording: Cluck Old Hen. But the songs and delivery are the reason to buy this recording. Of course, the album is sprinkled with hits by AKUS, but its the other songs that break my heart. I especially like Ghost in this House and Tiny Broken Heart. Technically, the album is a beautiful document of a live performance. The sound quality is pristine and the mix is pure. With AKUS, there is no need to process the intonation in the studio; their intonation is spot on. This recording was made and released after Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? which featured AKUS on the soundtrack. Of course, their version of Man of Constant Sorrow sung by Dan Tyminski is included on this recording. People who didnt think they would enjoy bluegrass changed their mind after listening to this record. I have purchased many copies to give away as gifts; in fact, I give this away more than any other CD I enjoy. Give it a shot.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Superb Live Performance at 2006-06-01
As a general rule, I dont care for recordings of live performances as much as studio recordings. This is usually because the crowd noise interferes with my enjoyment of the music. That is not the case here. In fact, it is one of the best live performances I have ever heard recorded.I was also not too familiar with Alison Kraus and Union Station beyond being names I have heard. This was my first recording of theirs. It was wonderful. Some of the music is old fashioned bluegrass and some is more in the country line of things. Both are done with superb skill in terms of singing and instrumentals. In fact, the band seems to be one of the most competent group of professional musicians working together today. Each comes to the fore at various times and each does a wonderful job.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Live at RIT at 2006-03-16
Upon receiving my copy of the cd, it reminded me of the concert that I attended last year during the Lilac Festival in Rochester New York. It was a delight to hear and brought back many memories of a lost relationship I am now getting over. Thanks for the memories.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Editorial:
This two-CD 25-song set recorded in Louisville on two nights in the spring of 2002 finds bluegrasss most celebrated crossover band at the top of its game. Krausss warm feathery vocals capable of conveying complex emotions in a single note appear more full-bodied than in studio recordings yet lose none of their sensual appeal or dramatic tension. Shes perfect for example as the melancholy temptress on Let Me Touch You for Awhile coming across as both savior and seductress while Jerry Douglass Dobro echoes the searing strains of passion and pain. With banjoist-guitarist Ron Block bassist Barry Bales and guest drummer Larry Atamanuik anchoring the rhythm the ensemble deftly blends bluegrass with jazz rock and folk combining lightning speed (though rushing through Forget About It) with sophisticated chops tangible emotion and thrilling vocal blends. The crowd more spellbound with every note doesnt even breathe on Ghost in This House and nearly tears the place down on Dan Tyminskis voice-of-George Clooney showcase I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow. But who could blame them? Its only one highlight on an album of uncommon artistry a moving testament to how good live music can be in the hands of world-class players. Alanna Nash
|
New Favorite
|
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
A great mixture of styles at 2005-10-13
This CD is a masterful collection that highlights some of the great talents in Union Station. The ballads sung by Alison and the more traditional bluegrass tunes sung by Dan Tyminski make a wonderful listening experience.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
This album hits one out of the park, MY new favorite at 2005-05-29
How can one be critical of such perfection seemingly sent direct from his holly bosom. OK!, I know? That isnt exactly helpful to those new to the AKUS phenomenon. Ill try to be level headed about this. If you are reading this, you are looking for guidance, so for those who have resisted buying any AKUS until NOW... Shame on you! But OK, if that be the case, youre best bet for a high saturation of OUTSTANDING ballads is New Favorite which has some good B-grass also, or Forget About It But this is void of any B-grass whatsoever, (howd that happen?). For the most balanced album with STRONG Ballads AND B-grass, So Long So Wrong is your good first choice. If you prefer the older works of AKUS (lots of B-grass) but cant decide which to buy, your best bet is Now That Ive Found You without question. Unless you have a specific song title in mind, Lonely Runs Both Ways may not be your best first purchase. Stellar performances on ALL titles are to be found without question. Myself? I heard AKUS the first time in 1992. I was awe-struck, and remain so with each release from Alison or AKUS. When god shines, HE SHINES. One day I hope a CD of all of Alisons singles from movie sound-tracks etc... will be released. I own every Alison album released so far, other than the occasional wayward single. I can say the same for Dan and Rons works also. Jerry!... lol, Dude, nobody has enough money or time to buy everything YOUve put your personal touch too. However, I can nearly always detect your sound and style, sight unseen whenever I hear it, . Alison and the group are beyond mere descriptive phrases. Certainly they are perfection, in humility, talent, taste, execution, communion and musicianship. Yet, these words are only glimpses of the greater power one can sense from every utterance AKUS make. Thank You Alison, Dan, Ron, Jerry, Barry et all... I appreciate your music sooooo very much.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
breath taking at 2006-03-15
Although it seems easy enough to label Alison Krauss and Union Station as a country band, that really doesnt do the group justice. Some of their songs are bluegrass, which many unaccustomed listeners equate with country; some are pure country, which is more in line with what you would hear on the radio; and some are just great music. The range of this group is phenomenal.Alison Krauss does not sing on all the songs, which as a new listener, I was not aware of. Ron Block and Dan Tyminski sing a few also. Dans songs tend to be the more traditional bluegrass songs such as Bright Sunny South and The Boy Who Wouldnt Hoe Corn. These songs feel more like story-telling rather than just a song.Of the songs that Alison sings, two really stick out: Let Me Touch You For Awhile and The Lucky One. I really cant describe her voice in these songs in any way other than breath-taking. She has a way of getting the listener to take notice.If you have never tried Alison Krauss and Union Station before, I would recommend giving this one a try.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Very well done at 2005-12-01
New Favorite could very well be her best studio effort.She comes up with some great songs. Her band including Jerry Douglas on dobro are in top form. Douglas with his expertise on dobro turns a very good group into the top Bluegrass band in the world.Among them are, Let me Touch you for Awhile, The Lucky One.My personal favorite, Bright sunny south which is a civil war song. Take me for the longing is another great song and the title track, New Favorite. This was the precocessor to the Live album that went into orbit in record sales.This is an outstanding CD and shows Alison and the group in top form...............enjoy
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
AKUS hits their stride at 2006-02-26
This has to be the best recording that AKUS has done to date. Lyrics, music, bluegrass, country, rock.... it doesnt matter.. this is a CD from the heart...This is the type of music that touches ones heart and soul, and makes ones self better for the touch.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Editorial:
After her 1999 gold release IForget About It Alison Krauss has found additional success as part of the soundtrack to IO Brother Where Art Thou?/an album thats done more to advance the cause of bluegrass since Bill Monroe first conjured the music out of the hills of western Kentucky. While IForget About It showcased the more contemporary part of Krausss musical equation and the IO Brother soundtrack spotlighted the more traditional INew Favorite combines the approaches in balancing the softer sounds with the rougher-edged material. Krauss particularly shines on the soulful title tune of love gone cold her vocal--softer than a cloud and more intimate than a midnight kiss--threatening to steal your breath away. However its mostly the older sounds that youll remember from this largely somber album one that telegraphs uncertainty doom and the promise of bloodshed throughout much of the repertoire. On Momma Cried a song about a child-snatching that tore a family asunder Dan Tyminskis tenor vocals rise above a wailing Dobro a driving banjo and a thumping anchoring bass to convey unspeakable pain. Too many of the pop-minded songs fall flat in comparison but although this may not be the groups best effort overall no other crossover bluegrass band begins to meet their mark either musically or emotionally as INew Favorite so amply shows. Alanna Nash
|
So Long So Wrong
|
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Sorrow and the mandolin at 2006-03-15
Before Jerry Douglas and the Dobro, there Adam Steffey was and his mandolin. I dont know why the band changed the lineup in this way, but it changed the style. With the mandolin, I noticed a lot more traditional sounding tunes, like Little Liza Jane and The Road is a Lover. With the mandolin, the album seems to have a bit more of the banjo.Alison Krausss singing is still as ethereal as ever. You cant help but sit and listen. The lead vocal chores are shared throughout the album as Adam, Dan, Ron, and Allison all chime in.Aside from the traditional tunes, the theme of the album seems to be about sorrow as well as the paths we choose. This is pure storytelling. It is worth the time to read through the lyrics while listening to the songs. It definitely adds to the enjoyment.Unless you are a fan of traditional country and bluegrass, this may not be for you. However, I would recommend giving this album a listen.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Set your CD player for Auto Repeat, its finger pickin good. at 2005-05-29
How can one be critical of such perfection seemingly sent direct from his holly bosom. OK!, I know? That isnt exactly helpful to those new to the AKUS phenomenon. Ill try to be level headed about this. If you are reading this, you are looking for guidance, so for those who have resisted buying any AKUS until NOW... Shame on you! But OK, if that be the case, youre best bet for a high saturation of OUTSTANDING ballads is New Favorite which has some good B-grass also, or Forget About It But this is void of any B-grass whatsoever, (howd that happen?). For the most balanced album with STRONG Ballads AND B-grass, So Long So Wrong is your good first choice. If you prefer the older works of AKUS (lots of B-grass) but cant decide which to buy, your best bet is Now That Ive Found You without question. Unless you have a specific song title in mind, Lonely Runs Both Ways may not be your best first purchase. Stellar performances on ALL titles are to be found without question. Myself? I heard AKUS the first time in 1992. I was awe-struck, and remain so with each release from Alison or AKUS. When god shines, HE SHINES. One day I hope a CD of all of Alisons singles from movie sound-tracks etc... will be released. I own every Alison album released so far, other than the occasional wayward single. I can say the same for Dan and Rons works also. Jerry!... lol, Dude, nobody has enough money or time to buy everything YOUve put your personal touch too. However, I can nearly always detect your sound and style, sight unseen whenever I hear it, . Alison and the group are beyond mere descriptive phrases. Certainly they are perfection, in humility, talent, taste, execution, communion and musicianship. Yet, these words are only glimpses of the greater power one can sense from every utterance AKUS make. Thank You Alison, Dan, Ron, Jerry, Barry et all... I appreciate your music sooooo very much.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Alison stays true to Her Artistic Vision at 2004-06-24
Ever since Elvis began his famed recording career with a Rockabilly cover of Bluegrass Bossman Bill Monroes signature Blue Moon of Kentucky Bluegrass has been regarded by *some* as the poor barefoot hayseed step-child of Country Music. Acoustic Guitars and Banjos and Fiddles were overwhelmed and swallowed up by Electric Guitars and Peddle Steel Guitars. A successful Bluegrass album sold maybe 30,000. The dirty little secret in Nashville was that the Bluegrass musicians were the ones who could really PLAY, so talented bluegrassers who wanted to make a decent living became Nashville studio musicians. Bluegrass fans, who are often as fanatical about the music as a religious zealot is about their religion, considered such musicians to have sold out, and so it was that artists like Ricky Skaggs, Bill Keith, Marty Stuart and Vince Gill were considered. Once big fish in the small Bluegrass pond, they were thought by Bluegrass Purists to have compromised their artistic integrity to become Country successes. (Was it ironic that Ricky Skaggs first Country Hit was a countrified version of Lester Flatts Dont Get Above Your Raisin?)The purpose of this review isnt to give even a thumbnail history lesson of the evolution of Bluegrass and a comparison to more popular and mainstream forms of music, but it is important in having a complete appreciation of this album to recognize the historical rarity of a popular or breakout Bluegrass artist or band or recording. In the past half-century before Alison Krauss the number of Bluegrass recordings which received any degree of popular airplay could be easily counted on one hand:Flatt and Scruggs Foggy Mountain Breakdown - the music used as the musical theme to Bonnie and Clyde.Flatt and Scruggs The Ballad of Jed Clampett - the theme to Beverly HillbilliesDueling Banjos - from the soundtrack to DeliveranceRocky Top - by the Osborne BrothersFox on the Run - by the Country GentlemenThen along came Alison Krauss, with her stunning crystalline voice that caught the attention of the Bluegrass community while she was still a teenager.She recorded several albums which were among the most well-received in the Bluegrass community leading up to 1995 when her label, Rounder, persuaded her to put together a few new recordings with mostly previous releases, some as guest star on other CDs to come up with the compilation Now That Ive Found You(It may have been called Greatest Hits for an artist that had HAD a hit).That CD stunned everyone, sold 6 million copies and suddenly Alison Krauss was the hottest female voice in Nashville - winning a handful of CMA awards.Under the expectations of THAT success Ms. Krauss and her band, Union Station, went to the studio to record the follow-up album.Many on either side of the Bluegrass Purist fence were expecting the next CD to be the Sell-Out CD - full of steel guitars and guest duets with Barbra Streisand.What came instead was THIS CD, So Long So Wrong, an album that celebrates the Bluegrass heritage that these musicians hail from in addition to showcasing the extraordinary contemporary talents of Alison and Union Station.Newcomers to Bluegrass expecting a recording with nothing but Alisons voice were likely put out a little that some GUY was singing the lead vocal on several of these cuts. Alison knew that Dan Tyminsky was an extraordinary vocalist YEARS before Dan was chosen to do the singing voiceover for George Clooney in O Brother Where Art Thou?The CD is one of the prominent ones that Alison jokes about in which her lead vocals are predominantly on beautiful but sorrowful ballads like Deeper Than Crying and Find My Way Back to my Heart. These tracks are beautiful and theyre NOT straight bluegrass for you purists - Ron Block trades in his trusty 5-string for some tasty acoustic guitar work and these are closer to folk or even just unplugged pop than to bluegrass. The Dan Tyminski tracks are rollicking rip-roaring bluegrass monsters like Ill Remember You, Love in my Prayers and The Road is a Lover.This CD is one of the very best by Alison Krauss and Union Station, and that is saying something. If youre a fan of Alison, or maybe you just heard something about those musicians on the O Brother soundtrack this is a recording you just have to add to your collection.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
A+: Excellent Songs, Singing, Musicianship at 2004-05-01
If you like New Grass or folk, spirited American acoustic, banjo and fiddle, youll like Alison Krauss. If you dont have anything by her yet, So Long So Wrong is the album to get. Ive listened extensively to her albums, and I rate this one the best so far. Excellent selection of melodic numbers. Shes never sung better. Her musicians are in very top form.An outstanding set.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Review:
Great bluegrass and folk sound at 2004-03-15
Alison Krauss and her Union Station bandmates do a fine job on So Long, So Wrong. Alisons singing and fiddle playing dominate, especially on the ballads Looking In The Eyes Of Love, I Can Let Go Now, Deeper Than Crying, It Doesnt Matter, Happiness and There Is A Reason. However, Union Stations guitarist, Dan Tyminski, who sings lead on No Place To Hide, The Road Is A Lover, and Blue Trail Of Sorrow, also is a strong singer. Furthermore, Adam Steffey(mandolin), Ron Block(banjo and guitar), and Barry Bales(acoustic bass), the remaining Union Station members, really shine on this one. The instrumental Little Liza Jane, on which all the band members get into the act, is a driving bluegrass tune. Theres no percussion anywhere on the record, but thanks to Barrys thumping bass lines, the songs have a rhythmic, flowing feel to them, which more than makes up for the lack of a drumbeat. There arent any musical gimmicks here, but there is a great bluegrass and folk sound. So Long, So Wrong is a fine collection of songs from a truly talented group of singers and musicians.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Album Editorial:
Many bluegrass musicians have incorporated contemporary elements into their work Jim Jesse the Osborne Brothers and Mac Wiseman among them. but Krausss contemporary bluegrass contains particularly heavy doses of pop folk and modern country. Whatever style she chooses her flawless voice and her crack Union Station cohorts usually maintain a high standard. The instrumental Little Liza Jane and the traditional Ill Remember You Love In My Prayers prove their instrumental chops and songs like No Place to Hide with an impressive fiddle turn from Krauss herself effectively mold modern elements into the bluegrass idiom. However others such as It Doesnt Matter and Deeper Than Crying have very little to do with bluegrass at all. A mostly solid contemporary-bluegrass album except when the contemporary drowns out the bluegrass. Marc Greilsamer
|
|
|
|
|
|
