Alison Krauss - A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection
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Free Music Notes for A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection
Free Music Review: A more mature and polished Alison Krauss (and she was great before!)
Hit: 5 Stars
Other reviewers have already commented on Alison's angelic voice (an overused but perhaps never more applicable description) and the impressive range she exhibits with it on this album, so I'll not belabor those points, only confirm them. What I find most impressive about this album, and I own just about every CD she's done in her adult career, is the emotional maturity and authenticity she brings to this somewhat eclectic (but never dull) mix of songs. Songs like Jacob's Dream and Away Down The River are powerful enough to bring tears to the eyes of even the most macho marlboro man ("I've jes' got some dust in mah eye, that's all it is!") and You Will Be My Ain True Love is just as haunting and ethereal here as it was at the Academy Awards. There aren't many singers who could eclipse the likes of Sting or James Taylor in a duet, but Alison does so without even breaking a sweat, and that's saying something.
Her work with Union Station has already shown her to be a great artist, but I think she really comes into her own in this collection. I've always had a little bit of a hard time listening to Alison singing about whiskey and heartbreak, the presentation always technically flawless but the authenticity somewhat suspect. I don't have that problem with this collection - there's more than just virtuosity here, there's real emotional depth in her voice and an intelligence of song selection that goes beyond the usual country/pop sensibilities.
Free Music Review: What a gorgeous collection of rarities
Hit: 5 Stars
Alison Krauss has the voice of an angel and when she gets playing, she can sound like the dark side. This collection of live performances, duets, etc. is so eclectic, you'll put into your CD player and not take out anytime soon.
There are enough varied genre artists here to keep the collection fascinating as it rolls out: Sting (You will be my Ain True Love), Brad Paisley (Whiskey Lullabye), James Taylor (How's the World Treating You) and John Waite in a double treat (Missing You, and Lay Down Beside Me).
Music can evoke a wide range of emotion and this collection is no exception. "Jacob's Dream" is an eerie song about two children's death. Spare instrumentation and Alison's voice will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up the first time you hear it.
Conversely, "Sawing on the Strings" is a hoedown sound that will make you tap your foot, if not get up and dance.
I actually thought the least of this collection would be "Down to the River to Pray," which is Alison solo with the audience as chorus. I did miss Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris from the original, but there's a camp meeting feel to this collection's version that is well worth listening to.
"A Hundred Miles or More" is much more. This collection is well worth a listen and a purchase if you like any of the genres represented here.
Rebecca Kyle, May 2008
Free Music Review: She just gets better and better
Hit: 5 Stars
Alison Krauss has an angelic voice. I enjoy her with Union Station and by herself.
This CD has her with Union Station and with special guests such as: Brad Paisley, James Taylor and John Waitt;
The album is very good throughout, so I will hit the highlights.
Jacobs Dream is about some kids who run away from their pioneer cabin and become lost. You hear the kids crying for help and wanting to be fed.
After a few days the kids are found, unfortunately they have passed away.
This is the type of song Alison has made a career of singing. You hear the kids telling the parents they are now with God and all is well.
There is something about this song that moves you.
Another favorite is her duet with James Tayler: How's the world treating you. Their voices are made for each other. This is "Old Fashioned" country music at its very best. The harmonies are superb.
And then there is her duet with Brad Paisley: Wiskey lullaby.
About two lovers with alcohol problems they cannot overcome.
Also included is :Down to the river to pray, from Brother, where art thou.
This to me is as good if not better than her music with Union Station. I am a blue grass lover and like her music with Union Station immensely.
If you want a real treat you need to buy this Music Review: Attention: NOT AKUS
Hit: 5 Stars If you are a big bluegrass fan of Alison and Union Station, this album is not for you. There is only one bluegrass tune included. Note the word Collection in the title, which means that this is a collection of (mostly) previously released material, with five new cuts, not with AKUS. The range of music is a little wider than usual, and so it feels more like a bunch of songs than an integrated set of works. And that's exactly what it is. Over the last few years, Alison has worked with a wide variety of artists, from Sting to Tom Waite to James Taylor to ...
So you get this album because you always wanted a copy of Whiskey Lullaby and How's the world Treating You and the movie soundtracks and ...
Alison is at her breathiest here. It's almost as if she wants to try a different style, so if you don't like that style, you need to move on. I happen to think it's drop-dead gorgeous. Simple Love and Jacob's dream are two worthwhile new songs, a simple country ballad and a chilling traditional folk tune. I also like her duet with Tom Waite on Missing You, but I won't quibble if you think she should belt it out rather than breathe it out. So maybe it's not a 5, but it's certainly better than a 4, or the low ratings by people who didn't know what they were getting into. So be aware and enjoy!
Free Music Review: A HUNDRED SMILES OR MORE
Hit: 5 Stars
As is mentioned in the program notes in the CD booklet, this compilation includes 4 unreleased tunes as well as songs from outside her previous solo and Union Station recordings -- many of these from movie soundtracks. I was first introduced to Alison Krauss on the Soundtrack, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and was thrilled that the song, "Down to the River to Pray" from that soundtrack was included on this compilation.
The album as a whole has a folksy, country-western, bluegrass and Celtic feeling to it. There are some soft, subdued songs, such as "Scarlet Tide" (with just vocal, piano and cello); Celtic-flavored tunes such as "Molly Ban"; more mainstream country, such as the wonderful duet with Brad Paisley on "Whiskey Lullaby"; a little pop with accompaniment, similar to Berlin's "Every Breath You Take," on "Missing You" (one of two duets with John White); and even a little Disney("Baby Mine")!
Allison's voice is clear, soft and pleasant, but she can also play a mean fiddle, as heard on "Sawing on the Strings"! While some of her lyrics might be considered "depressing" to some, the eclectic mix - and especially the fiddling - still brings a smile to my face.
If you buy just one Alison Krauss compilation, this would be it.