Alison Krauss - Now That I've Found You: Collection
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Free Music Notes for Now That I've Found You: Collection
Free Music Review: The Bluest Of Bluegrass, The Tenderest Of Tenderness
Hit: 5 Stars
Holy Smokes.This was my reaction when I bit the bullet.
I'd spent years bypassing Alison Krauss in CD sections, but occasional clips would enter my subconscious via the now-defunct Nashville Network and occasional audio clips on radio and other television shows, so I never really got Ms. Krauss' music out of my head. A televised performance at The Grand Ol Opry that I happened to catch whetted a mild appetite, and finally I bit the bullet and purchased this compilation of some of her best work in the latter 1980s and early 1990s.
This little explanation was necessary because it illustrates a point made by Providence Phoenix writer Jim Macnie in the CD's liner notes - Alison Krauss and her Union Station bandmates are not the type of band who go looking for attention. They prefer the cozier confines of smaller scale performances. As a result, they have slipped under the general radars of country-pop and have fashioned a body of compellingly simple work, a small fraction of which is on display here.
Macnie describes a humorous incident in New York where Ms. Krauss fretted about the bad hair night she had and how her forehead was showing. With a lot of other chart-toppers, such an incident would become an exercise in self-absorption; with Alison Krauss it is just a throwaway episode. Ms. Krauss' hair can certainly disarm the viewer as it does in its close-cropped short mane gracing the cover of her recent disc New Favorite, but bad hair days or not, it is the music that keeps the listener.
Union Station does not employ a drummer, and the lack of such percussive backbone is no great loss. The synergy of fiddle, dobro, banjo, and so forth enters the soul just fine, and Ms. Krauss becomes the soul with gracefully tender vocals that never become mushy or cloying. On "Every Time We Say Goodbye" she takes a sad instance and makes a charming throwaway out of it, and repeats this throughout the twelve numbers culled here. Her cover of the cheesy 1960s hit "Now That I Found You" dispenses with that number's approach and instead crafts something so unexpectedly different that it makes the original easy to ignore.
While Ms. Krauss may not become a chart-topper of the Martina McBride mold, she doesn't really have to try, since her music bears so much greater substance than most contemporary country-pop. This compilatiuon is the right place to start for listeners new and old.
Free Music Review: WHAT?!! A Platinum Bluegrass Album without a movie/tv tiein?
Hit: 5 Stars
It took a few albums for the rest of the world to discover what the Bluegrass community already knew about the phenomenal Alison Krauss - her voice is a once-in-a-lifetime gift.She had recorded about 4 albums when independent label Rounder and Alison came up with the idea of a "Greatest Hits" collection for an artist in a genre that pretty much never HAS a "hit". Now That I've Found You opens with three new tracks - each one of them became a hit - then is filled in with another nine tracks from the previous albums, plus a few gems she recorded as a guest vocalist on other's CDs, such as "I Will" from Tony Furtado's "Within Reach" and "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" on Jerry Douglas' "Slide Rule"(a wonderful old Louvin Brother's song that received another wonderful treatment in the recent Louvin Brother's tribute album - check THAT one out too!) Suddenly the young woman had a platinum album, selling millions and zillions of copies in a Genre that no one outside of Bluegrass listened to.
What was going ON?
Bluegrass had a FEW hits in the Rock and Roll era:
Flatt and Scruggs "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" - the music used as the musical theme to "Bonnie and Clyde".
Flatt and Scruggs "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" - the theme to "Beverly Hillbillies"
"Dueling Banjos" - from the soundtrack to "Deliverance"
"Rocky Top" - by the Osborne Brothers
"Fox on the Run" - by the Country Gentlemen
But it was pretty much unheard of for a Bluegrass recording or artist to get much notice outside of the Bluegrass die-hards, unless there was a movie or television tie-in.
Then along came Alison Krauss, with her stunning crystalline voice that caught the attention of the Bluegrass community while she was still a teenager.
This CD really IS just a "sampler" of Alison Krauss' voice - but it's a good starter disc for someone who wants to hear the kind of voice that only comes along once a generation....
Free Music Review: Excellent Intro to Alison & Bluegrass
Hit: 5 Stars
Alison Krauss, along with her band Union Station, is probably the best-known bluegrass artist currently recording. "Now That I Found You: A Collection" is a compilation of Alison's early work along with some new music. Even though she was only 23 when she released this CD in 1995, Alison had been recording since she was 16. Her pure voice shines through, and the songs are consistently excellent; however, three of them are real standouts.
"Baby, Now That I've Found You" is my favorite selection and simply one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard. Whenever I hear it, the tune gets imbedded into my mind and plays on a continuous loop for days. The song was originally a #11 pop hit in 1968 for the Foundations, who are perhaps better known for "Build Me Up Buttercup." It was only a minor country hit for Alison (#49 in 1995), although it netted her a Grammy for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female. "When You Say Nothing At All" is Alison's biggest country hit, having peaked at #3 in 1995. What makes its success all the more amazing is that it was a #1 hit just seven years earlier for Keith Whitley. It's clearly become one of Alison's signature songs. The final standout for me is "I Will" written by those great bluegrass artists - Lennon and McCartney! Only a tremendous talent like Alison could make a Beatles song into a bluegrass masterpiece.
This CD was an unexpected hit - selling more than 2 million copies. It also helped Alison win 3 major Country Music Association Awards in 1995 - Horizon (best new artist), Female Vocalist, and Single of the Year for "When You Say Nothing At All." I'm by no means an expert on bluegrass, and I admit that most of the bluegrass CDs I own feature Alison Krauss. However, I certainly recognize quality music when I hear it, and "Now That I Found You: A Collection" is outstanding contemporary bluegrass. Most highly recommended.
Free Music Review: A Living Legend
Hit: 5 Stars
Alison Krauss is one of my favorite bluegrass singers, and arguably one of my favorite singes period. She shows with this album that she has range, as a wide variety of song types has made its way onto this CD.
1. Baby, Now That I've Found You: This has a pop sound of the 80's and still holds true to her bluegrass roots. It reminds me of other pop songs of the time.
2. Oh, Atlanta: By far my favorite track on this CD. The quick bluesy, jazz sound is unique. I have not heard very many songs with a sound like this one.
3. Broadway: A slower, more traditional country sounding song. Not bad, but not a standout.
4. Every Time You Say Goodbye: A true bluegrass sound, this song really stays true to her roots. It has everything I like about bluegrass.
5. Tonight I'll Be Lonely Too: A very traditional country sound, reminiscent of the singers of Hank Sr.s' day.
6. Teardrops Will Kiss the Morning: Another oldie country sound. The lyrics really don't do much for me, but Krausses voice helps carry this song for me.
7. Sleep On: This has the sound of what country will become, with some of the sound of the day mixed in. I find it hard to dislike any song in which Krauss harmonizes.
8. When God Dips His Pen of Love In My Heart: Straight out of the gospel roots of bluegrass, it has the old-time church sound. That is something I normally love, but this song doesn't really work for me.
9. I Will: This song is one of the definitions I use when explaining Krausses sound. The pure, clean sounding vocals with touching lyrics is her hallmark, and what keeps me coming back.
10. In The Palm of Your Hand: Another of her classics, this song touches me. It speaks to the queit southern religion of my youth. Her voice adds an angelic sound to it that makes it a favorite.
Free Music Review: Top Notch, an excellent first purchase.
Hit: 5 Stars
How can one be critical of such perfection seemingly sent direct from his holly bosom. OK!, I know? That isn't exactly helpful to those new to the AKUS phenomenon. I'll try to be level headed about this. If you are reading this, you are looking for guidance, so for those who have resisted buying any AKUS until NOW... Shame on you! But OK, if that be the case, you're best bet for a high saturation of OUTSTANDING ballads is "New Favorite" which has some good B-grass also, or "Forget About It" But this is void of any B-grass whatsoever, (how'd that happen?). For the most balanced album with STRONG Ballads AND B-grass, "So Long So Wrong" is your good first choice. If you prefer the older works of AKUS (lots of B-grass) but can't decide which to buy, your best bet is "Now That I've Found You" without question. Unless you have a specific song title in mind, "Lonely Runs Both Ways" may not be your best first purchase. Stellar performances on ALL titles are to be found without question. Myself? I heard AKUS the first time in 1992. I was awe-struck, and remain so with each release from Alison or AKUS. When god shines, HE SHINES. One day I hope a CD of all of Alisons singles from movie sound-tracks etc... will be released. I own every Alison "album" released so far, other than the occasional wayward single. I can say the same for Dan & Rons works also. Jerry!... lol, Dude, nobody has enough money or time to buy everything YOU've put your personal touch too. However, I can nearly always detect your sound & style, sight unseen whenever I hear it, ". Alison & the group are beyond mere descriptive phrases. Certainly they are perfection, in humility, talent, taste, execution, communion and musicianship. Yet, these words are only glimpses of the greater power one can sense from every utterance AKUS make. Thank You Alison, Dan, Ron, Jerry, Barry et all... I appreciate your music sooooo very much.