From Amazon.com
Not Their Best Effort
Album Rating: (2 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I usually love Alison Krauss and Union Station, but not this album. Not ONE song on this album I enjoy...very odd. Don't waste your money. Get some of her or her and Union Station's earlier releases. Maybe they are coasting right now...smile.
An amazing bunch of talent
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: It's a fantastic CD. They are fantastic. Their close harmony and high sounds - mind boggling. Some of the best music in the world. (Please see my comment on Mark Fowler's above review.)
Alison and an earlier version of Union Station sound great
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Dan Tyminski later replaced Tim Stafford on guitar and after mandolin Wiz Adam Steffey left AKUS Dobro Deity Jerry Douglas joined the band.
Ron Block on banjo and guitar and Barry Bales on bass have been with Alison for years, and this version of Union Station sounds comparably polished and talented. I'm going to guess if you're reading this that you have at least a nodding acquaintance with Alison's one-in-a-million voice and the fact that while her bands are built to complement that voice - she also doesn't hog the spotlight.
On this CD standout cuts include "New Fool", "Who Can Blame You", "Heartstrings" along with the Gospel "Jesus, Help me to Stand" and the title cut.
Several of the tracks feature other Union Station members on lead vocals and although they vary from "good" to "not bad" - they suffer from today's perspective in that no one else in Union Station has a voice like Alison's, and no one else in *this* version of the band has a voice like Dan Tyminski.
Still - absolutely required for Alison Krauss fans.
Excellent CD
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I am a newcomer to Bluegrass - bought the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack and got hooked on it. I was intrigued by the Krauss songs on that album and came to Amazon looking for more. The reviews told me to buy this album, so I did. And I am quite pleased with the purchase.
It is incredible to listen to such skill on the banjo, especially after hearing so much modern guitar strumming. That combined with Krauss' hypnotic voice make the album great. My only problem with the album was that Krauss didn't sing EVERY song!
Pure but fairly mellow bluegrass
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Alison Krauss has done much to popularise bluegrass in recent years. Her early recordings were pure bluegrass - this (from 1992) was the last album of that phase of her career. Her more recent albums have included other influences but I enjoy those too, in a different way.
On this album, Alison and her band, Union Station, work their way through a selection of songs that are generally not well known despite several of them being cover versions. Many of these are old bluegrass songs, but they also include I don't know why (Shawn Colvin) and Lose again (Karla Bonoff). There are also some original songs here including two by Sidney Cox (of the Cox family).
At the time, Union Station was made up of Tim Stafford (guitar), Ron Block (banjo - he also wrote three of the songs here), Adam Steffey (mandolin) and Barry Bales (bass). Alison played the fiddle as well as doing most of the singing. The four men could all sing and each of them can be heard on this album, providing harmony or duet vocals, but Alison is the real star.
If you are unfamiliar with Alison's early music, I recommend that you buy Now that I've found you - A collection, which I've already reviewed. That includes one track from each of her early albums, plus tracks not available on any of her other albums so far. If you have that collection and you are looking for more of Alison's early music, you will enjoy this.
Purchases
1 Every Time You Say Goodbye
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