Alison Krauss and Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.55 You Save: $10.43 (58%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.59 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Lonely Runs Both Ways
Free Music Review: Nobody else is even close
Hit: 5 Stars
For 30 years I have listened to Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band mature into the greatest band in rock and roll history--synthesizing diverse strand of tradition together with Bruce's extraordinary songs, his expressive singing,and the E Streeters' ability to blend amazingly diverse and virtuoso musicianship into soaring, breathtaking, heart-stopping, and earthquake-shaking music.
For a long time, I thought nobody else in popular music would ever rival Bruce and the E Street Band in this regard. But I think Alison Krauss and Union Station, working in a different tradition, have achieved the same level. They are unmatched in synthesizing bluegrass and country traditions with Alison's heart-rending singing and the extraordinary musicianship of all 5 players into a sound that resonates with the best of the tradition and at the same time sounds fresh and new. So many bluegrass groups believe that speed and density make the best music--the banjo player has to produce a sheet of indistinguishable Scruggs-style notes as all the other players furiously fill every space and rest. Not AKUS--I've never heard a band whose members work so hard at complementing each other's playing to produce a tight, superbly expressive sound.
I've listened to Alison since the 80s, and have watched witdh anticiaption as her music matured in the 90s with Union Station. This album epitomizes their achievement and continuing growth. I bought the CD the day it came out and have played it everyday since. I took it on a trip to Seattle for 3 days and infected my son and his with with it, and now they're playing it non-stop. So watch out--this is iressistible, infectious stuff.
As for me, if I get stuck on a deserted island with nothing but my CD player and a few CDs, I want my stack of Springsteen and AKUS CDs with me. If you've got them, you don't need much else.
Free Music Review: "bluegrass shining beacon ~ remarkable...Alison & Union Sta"
Hit: 5 Stars
How can you keep getting better and better, well whatever the formula...Alison Krauss and Union Station have found it...the result is pure entertainment through good ole bluegrass with their latest release "Lonely Runs Both Ways", with new and established songs.
This 30 plus year old artist, who signed with the Rounder label when she was 14, is without a doubt, the shining beacon on the bluegrass scene...plus the Union Station gang ~ Barry Bales (acoustic bass), Ron Block (banjo/guitar), Jerry Douglas (dobro/lap steel guitar) and Dan Tyminski (guitar/mandolin) with lead and backup make for "PASTURES OF PLENTY" and "RAIN PLEASE GO AWAY", just pickin' and a grinnin' with the Illinois State Fiddle Champion, Alison Krauss, won at a very early age...gotta love it!
In alphabetical order and with Union Station are the 15 selections:
BORDERLINE
CRAZY AS ME
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
GOODBYE IS ALL WE HAVE
GRAVITY
I DON'T HAVE TO LIVE THIS WAY
IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER
LIVING PRAYER
MY POOR OLD HEART
PASTURES OF PLENTY
RAIN PLEASE GO AWAY
RESTLESS
THIS SAD SONG
UNIONHOUSE BRANCH
WOULDN'T BE SO BAD
Friends, as you play this CD over and over again, your favorite song changes or one more is added, can't say enough about the talent on this particular album, a must have...want to leave Rounder Records a tip, keep up the good work, need more of the same...when you say "O Brother Where Art Thou", it's here...now that I've found you, we now know LONELY RUNS BOTH WAYS!
Total Time: 46:00 on 15 Tracks ~ Rounder Records 610525 ~ (11/23/2004)
Free Music Review: extraordinary
Hit: 5 Stars
Well, what else do you need? She has this extraordinary voice, and I mean extraordinary, extraordinary musicians and again I mean it, in short, this is an extraordinary album. Dan Tyminsky, her brilliant guitar/mandolin player (the lead vocal on "Man of Constant Sorrow" in the movie soundtrack "O'Brother") is here to prove it. What's more, his own vocal parts are splendid on "Rain Please Go Away"and "Pastures of Plenty" (a song that reminds us of many past things but that has nothing to do with the original one). An instrumental piece highlights Jerry Douglas's talent on "Union house Branch". Only Alison Krauss can perfectly mingle Bluegrass and folk music the way she does. In fact she has developed a style of her own. A trademark nobody will ever dare imitate, so perfect her skill is."Poor Old Heart" confirms it. "A Living Prayer or "If I didn't Know Any Better" allows us to hear Alison's pure and crystal-clear voice. But in addition to the extraordinary artist she is, she has produced great people like Nickel Creek, or has helped new and up-and-coming singers like Melonie Cannon, to whom she "lent" all her musicians. Now if her album sounds like a dream to you, you will also be able to appreciate her with the equally fabulous Live Album released in CD and DVD last year. And on top of that, you'll realise that listening to Alison Krauss has a deep, relaxing effect on you. Sheer bliss!
FACM ( French Association of Country Music - http://facm.free.fr )
Free Music Review: Buy this for "A Living Prayer"
Hit: 5 Stars
Greetings, bluegrass fans. I'm not among you. This is my 84th review for Ammy, and the first of a bluegrass, folk or country album. I review albums of singers, and generally, that's jazz singers. In fact, of the prior 83, 80 are of jazz singers, while three are of pop singers (Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones and Kate Bush).
My attention to this album was drawn by "Down Beat", the Bible of jazz. They gave a good rating to this, and one critic there gave it 5 stars. "Down Beat" rarely gives 5 stars to singers, so I knew I had to check it out.
I'm glad I did. Alison Krauss has a beautiful, pure voice. Her voice reminds me of Sinead O'Connor (pop) or Luciana Souza or Tierney Sutton (jazz)--one of those strong voices that doesn't strain, crack or pop no matter where she is in either of her second soprano ranges. The Union Station gives her solid backup support throughout.
Through the first 14 cuts, I was on the fence as to whether to give this 4 or 5 stars, which was tempered by the fact that my knowledge of bluegrass isn't anywhere near as complete as it is of jazz. Then I got to the last cut, "A Living Prayer", done by Ms. Krauss alone on guitar. Wow! This is one of the most spiritual songs done in recent years in any genre. It is a "pull your car over to the side of the road and listen to this now!" type of song. To say the least, it is worth the price of the album, and makes it one highly recommended. RC
Free Music Review: Spine Tingling
Hit: 5 Stars
I have only recently discovered Alison Krauss and Union Station but have since become an obsessed fan. I have all of their CDs. I suppose the genre of this music is Bluegrass but when Ms Krauss sings, it trancends genre an elevates into the rarified air of pure genius. This music knows no boundaries. It pierces your soul and leaves you breathless. I'm sure Alison would sound beautiful in any setting but it is such a joy to listen to her with her amazing band Union Station. I can't say enough about the quality and depth of tone that they add to the package with their instruments and vocal harmonies.
I have noticed a bit of a pattern whenever I get a new AKUS CD such as Lonely Runs Both Ways. I will listen a few times and think that it's good but it just can't top my favorites from her previous recordings. But then one day I'll be listening and BAM!!! The magic happens and I find myself amazed to think that indeed, this may be better than her previous perfection!
I do tend to skip the selections with lead male vocals. While I am sure they are top notch, they tend to remind me that this is a band with a Bluegrass heritage and I'm just not that much of a Bluegrass fan.
My favorite cuts are, "Restless", "My Poor Old Heart", "If I Didn't Know Any Better", and "A living Prayer". I would have to agree with a previous reviewer and say that "A Living Prayer" is almost worth the price of the CD.