Alison Krauss and Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways (15 tracks) +Album Reviews

Another great effort from Alison and the Station

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 02/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At age 33, Alison Krauss has more Grammies - 17 - than any other woman performer (even Aretha Franklin), while her previous studio CD, 2001's New Favorite, is approaching platinum sales levels. These are especially impressive feats considering how true bluegrass lingers far from mainstream country and pop, and how steadfast Krauss's dedication to bluegrass has been.

With her ace band Union Station, Krauss's forte has been a surprising but effective combination of crackling neotrad country and quiet pop. On Lonely Runs Both Ways, she again turns repeatedly to Robert Lee Castleman's intelligent writing along with a Gillian Welch/David Rawlings composition they themselves haven't recorded ("Wouldn't Be So Bad").

Woody Guthrie's "Pastures Of Plenty" gets a brooding interpretation from Union Station's deep-voiced guitarist Dan Tyminski (who sang George Clooney's numbers in O Brother, Where Art Thou?). Tyminski and hard-driving banjoist Ron Block's occasional lead vocals give the CD balance and weight, bringing it back down to earth after Krauss's cerebral singing.

Krauss, who began her recording career as a teen-aged fiddle prodigy, here gives her bowing dark, primeval tones in contrast to her light-as-a-feather vocals. Jerry Douglas plays dobro as imaginatively as ever as Krauss and Union Station transport serious bluegrass into the present without removing it from its past.

"

Buy this for "A Living Prayer"

Rick Cornell | Reno, Nv USA | 02/05/2005

(5 out of 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"

Quality Runs Both Ways

Danny G. Fulks | West Virginia | 01/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This new cd by Alison and her band is uncommonly good. Here, the lady who brought bluegrass from outdoor festivals and small venues to big theaters and arenas, again, shines like the star she is. When the history of acoustic music is written let it be said that Alison bridged the gap to the 21st Century with music whose tones and styles go back to the Carter Family and earlier. Jerry Douglas highlights the instrumentation with the dobro, writing Unionhouse Branch, filling, introducing selected tunes. Dan, Ron, Barry, Larry do heavy lifting on their voices and instruments. New harmonies emerge, new voice bends, new rhythms come across. My favorite, Crazy As Me. Ron's new song, A Living Prayer is worth the price of the cd; Gravity, Restless--have twists and turns coming from writer Castleman. Even the pictures are delightful."

Great songs and songwriting!

M. Manzino | Bronxville,, New York United States | 11/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alison Krauss and Union Station have done it again!. This new release is definitely worth the wait!. The opener Gravity is just stunning, followed by Restless which is beautiful Alison and Dan's harmonies are breath taking. We also get to hear Dan's vocals on Rain Please Go Away and Pastures of Plenty. Borderline is one of my favorite tracks, and the banjo tinged My Poor Old Heart accented by Jerry Douglas's dobro!. I also like Goodbye is All We Have and Wouldn't Be So Bad. All the songs are winners here! A Living Prayer is just haunting! Alison's pristeen voice with just two guitars music just doesn't get any better. My admiration to Ron for writing such a great song! You won't be disappointed pick this one up! definitely a contender for the grammies and CMAs!."

Another Winner

Terence Kennedy | Alexandria MN | 01/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many years ago after a band gig an audience member gave me a cassette and told me to "check this gal out, you'll like her". Turned out to be a copy of her first album and I've been a big fan ever since.

This is a good CD. Lots of breathy beautiful vocals, and a great treatment of Del McCoury's "Rain Go Away". Their version is a virtual textbook of how to play a hard core bluegrass number.

Another cool thing is the way Alison does the backbeat chops usually done by the mandolin, on the fiddle. Sounds perfect.

My main criteria in evaluating a song is if it makes me smile. I did a lot of smiling while I listened to this album.

Terence Kennedy

Alexandria Minnesota"

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