GREAT FEMALE SINGERS
I will be on my way to the Greyfox Bluegrass Festival tyomorrow morning. What am I going to listen to----AK "A Hundred Miles or More" There is NO ONE who can sing like Allison. Unfortunately, she won't be there. As it is a long ride from southern Pa to upstate NY, I will also listen to my other 2 favorite female singers---Sarah Mac & Abby Washburn. Fortunately, Abby will be there with both of her bands---Uncle Earl & the Sparrow Quartet. Abby will help me get over the fact that Allison will not be there.
The beauty of this album is it is a different Allison & I love it. The bluegrass Allison is wonderful, but I like variety, including her album with Robert Plant. It makes no difference, with a voice like hers ----its all great.
|
An enchanting, delectable compilation of her back catalogue with a...wilfully commercial air.
At the age of 35, she has achieved more career milestones than most people do in their lifetime. Her first album was released when she was 16. She has released a total of eleven albums, all on Rounder Records, with her long time band of highly acclaimed musicians, Union Station.
To date, she has earned 20 Grammy Awards - more than any other female in the history of the awards - and multiple Country Music Association Awards, International Bluegrass Music Awards and countless others.
On this CD there seems to be one track, at least, from each of her previous dozen albums over the past decade which saw her move from virtually unknown on the country scene, to become one of its leading acts.
This is a collection of tracks, which in their way are an delightful compilation of Alison's back catalogue.
And what a compilation this 16-tracker is, with fans' favourite collaborations (she is known for her penchant for collaborations) and guest duets ( "Whiskey Lullaby" with Brad Paisley and "How's the World Treating You" with James Taylor ); songs that have appeared in film soundtracks ("Down to the River to Pray" ); side projects and five brand new tracks in the mix - "You're Just a Country Boy", "Jacob's Dream", "Simple Love", "Lay Down Beside Me", and "Away Down the River", which are also all produced by Krauss.
None of these songs has ever appeared elsewhere on another Alison Krauss album, though its collection of non-traditional tracks holds together extremely well, given its disparate appearance.
Many will enjoy a brace of duets with John Waite, which includes his signature hit "Missing You".
Inevitably, Sting has to have a look-in and joins Alison on the tender "You Will Be My Ain True Love". An unexpected bonus is the Disney classic "Baby Mine" from Dumbo.
My favourite is the accapella "Down to the River to Pray" (you'll know it from the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"), showing off to full effect the raw power of Krauss's vocals. Beautiful.
Her voice is pure, matchless and seductive. It has an ethereal quality that just floats in the space.
Alison unleashes that marvelous instrument and touches your heart.
As USA Today wrote of her, "Krauss' influence extends far beyond bluegrass and far beyond her own albums".
From Billboard: "...Alison Krauss adds a newfound tenderness to the ironic lyric 'I ain't missing you at all/No matter what I say.' Her vulnerable vocals, as ever, add ache to the familiar track..."
The bluegrass singer's longtime and normally omnipresent backing band Union State is absent, but none the worse for it. "The Scarlet Tide" and "You Will Be My Ain True Love", from the film "Cold Mountain", are as moving and quietly beautiful now as ever.
Brimming with timeless slices of beauty, this collection serves as an excellent introduction for anyone looking to explore Alison's work for the first time, while the very thought of a few fresh cuts is sure to satisfy fans' thirst for new material until her next studio album arrives.
Enjoy this great collection on a a lazy Sunday with the one you love.
|