Alison Krauss & Union Station - Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live
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Free Music Notes for Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live
Free Music Review: GREAT music; best album I've bought in a long time
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a fantastic CD. I bought it because I had heard a little of it here and there, and heard some good things. I'm not a fan of country music by any stretch, but it's turned out to be an indispensable part of my CD library. Whether or not you like country/bluegrass or not, the quality of this music cannot be denied.First of all, there are the musicians. Each member of this band is incredibly skilled, and it shows. In the MTV/CMT world of prepackaged pop music that all sounds alike, we tend to forget what a joy it is to listen to fine musicianship, and this group is virtually without peer. In this album, the instruments blend together seamlessly, without any one dominating the others. It's truly an engrossing experience to sit and listen, especially during the instrumental portions of the album, where each member of the band has a chance to showcase his or her talents.
Then there are the vocals. Alison Krauss's voice lends an ethereal quality to the string instruments of the band, and is a wonderful contrast to the vocals of Dan Tyminski, whose sandy southern voice leads several songs. Though both are talented vocalists, they don't over-improvise; they just move along with the music, creating a tapestry of sound that truly envelops the listener.
The music covers a wide range, from roots-style bluegrass to '50s pop to contemporary country. They sprinkle in some "story songs," along with some instrumentals, love songs, and a gospel tune. My personal favorites include "The Lucky One," and "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn," but every song is fantastic.
This is, without question, a worthwhile buy. I can't say enough about the quality of this music because I can't fit all the superlatives into this space. If you appreciate GOOD music, no matter what the genre, then you won't be disappointed. "Live" is an absolutely wonderful album, one to listen to over and over.
Free Music Review: The best introduction to bluegrass.
Hit: 5 Stars
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 it's 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 didn't 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.
Free Music Review: Possibly the best live album ever
Hit: 5 Stars
I never really followed AKUS, although I'm a fan of bluegrass, and just bought this album because it looked like a good introduction. After listening to it once, I was blown away. Once I was able to tear myself away from hearing "Baby, Now That I've Found You" I went out and bought all the original AKUS albums I could find. Every single track on this album is better than the original version. The band is on fire. Krauss' vocals are breathtaking. You can hear the crowd is having a great time, but they get out of the way and let you hear the songs. It's the best of both worlds -- an outstanding "Greatest Hits" album for the band as well as the feeling of being at one of their concerts. And it avoids the cold, somber, somewhat over-produced and awkward feeling of the band's studio albums.
I can't imagine anyone hearing the versions of "Choctaw Hayride," or "Oh Atlanta," or "Maybe," or "Take Me For Longing," or "We Hide And Seek," on this album and not becoming an instant fan of this band. Plus, the beautiful "Baby, Now That I've Found You," and of course "Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Down to the River to Pray" from the O Brother soundtrack are included too.
And if you become as big a fan of this record as I have, check out the Live DVD, which gives you the whole concert as well as interviews with Krauss & the rest of the band. It's really light-hearted and gives you the feeling that no matter how hopeless and depressing the themes of the songs are, the band's just out there to have fun.
Free Music Review: What We Have Been Waiting For . . .
Hit: 5 Stars
I have had the opportunity to hear AKUS live on four different occassions and have come away every time thinking that they needed to find a way to bottle the raw emotion and energy that they display on-stage.This is the closest you will ever get to bottled Alison. All of the cuts on this album are excellent. It was recorded on a 34 track SACD system that successfully caught every little breath of the singers and every little squeak of fingers fretting instruments.
While the album is heavily peppered with songs from New Favorite, she reaches as far back to her 1995 release, Every Time You Say Goodbye for material. My favorite, however, has to be "But You Know I Love You", which was performed at varying times by Kenny Rogers (you know who he is) and Don Williams (if you don't know who he is, shame on you). While a fan of both gentlemen, the emotional depth she brings to this song is astounding and is now my favorite version. The album perfectly captured the calm that settles over a crowd when she sings "Ghost in this House" (to hear the original version of the song, still my favorite, check out the now-defunct country group Shenandoah).
One song that I would have liked to have heard was "Teardrops Will Kiss the Morning Dew" (from her I've Got That Old Feeling release), which she does an excellent job of delivering live.
Overall, this is one of the best live albums I have ever heard and faithfully represents AKUS's artistry. If you are looking for a first exposure to AKUS, this may not be a bad place to start.
Free Music Review: AK & US: Live!
Hit: 5 Stars
Fans have been waiting for a live album from Alison Krauss & Union Station for quite a while, and finally it's here. This is a dynamic set, covering their career very well, not leaving out any specific era of their career. This album proves why this group has longevity in bluegrass music, they are consistent and always making good music. Alison has a beautiful voice that trandescends with the beautiful instrumentation provided by herself and Union Station. The album was recorded live from the Louisville Palace in Louisville, KY. One of my favorites is the inclusion of the Dolly Parton cover "But You Know I Love You", which they give their own flair and magic to. Watch out for "The Lucky One", another endearing powerful performance. They also dig into classics of theirs including their rendition of Keith Whitley's "When You Say Nothing At All", "Baby Now That I've Found You", "Oh, Atlanta", "Every Time You Say Goodbye" and more. A large percentage of the material naturally comes from their NEW FAVORITE album, highlights from that set here include "Let Me Touch You For A While", "The Lucky One", "New Favorite", "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn", "Take Me For Longing" and more. I also like they included material from Alison's 1999 album FORGET ABOUT IT, including the title track, "Ghost In This House", "Stay", and "Maybe". What you get here is 25 live tracks, from a dynamic group who I am sure we have not seen the last of! Highly enjoyable, highly reccomended.