Alison Krauss and Union Station Lonely Runs Both Ways: a moment of stunning clarity
Written: Dec 30 '04 (Updated Dec 30 '04)
Product Rating:
Pros: Krauss' pure voice, Tyminski's authentic drawl, and the marvelous acoustic sounds of Union Station
Cons: Am I going out of my California mind now that I live in Texas?
The Bottom Line: Alison Krauss and the boys of Union Station kept popping up in bluegrass and country music I enjoy. It's about time I checked them out, and I'm glad I did
bob_tomato's Full Review: Lonely Runs Both Ways by Alison Krauss & Union Sta...
Ever have one of those "Duh!" moments?
You know - when you finally become conscious of some obvious fact that's been flashing in bright lights way back in your sub-conscious, just begging for your attention - It's the moment when you think, "How could I have missed THAT?" Focused on this monumental revelation, everything becomes crystal clear in that very instant. I had one of these moments recently…
I've been enjoying the music of Alison Krauss for years, but it wasn't until this week as I wandered through Fry's Electronics to spend a gift certificate that it finally hit me - I didn't own a single Alison Krauss recording (other than some albums in which she made guest appearances). And there in front of me was the newest release by Alison Krauss and Union Station, Lonely Runs Both Ways…
"Duh!" I thought, as I quickly picked up the CD and headed to the cash registers.
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A very welcome guest
I do own several recordings in which Alison performs, but I didn't actually notice her until she was prominently featured in the soundtrack for the film O Brother Where Art Thou- (an album that jumpstarted a bluegrass revival, in addition to the careers of Alison and the boys in Union Station). She can also be heard in many bluegrass and country compilations, and her talents as a singer and fiddle player keep her in demand with artists like Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Suzy Bogguss, Lee Ann Womack and many others. I know that I have heard her on albums with Gary Chapman, Susan Ashton, Amy Grant, Fernando Ortega, Edgar Meyer and Yo-Yo Ma, Lyle Lovett, Ricky Skaggs, and Richard Marx - the list is actually much longer than these.
I've been going back over these performances that I do have, and I can see why I enjoy her talents so much. Alison has a beautifully clear voice that is tinged with the Appalchian sound, and her skills as a fiddle player are quite good too. (as a singer and violin player myself, I can truly appreciate the combination of these talents)
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Bluegrass' house band
Alison has alternated her albums over the years, recording a solo album and then recording an album with the band. Union Station has been her touring band for most of her career, and each of the members of the band can boast their own solo libraries as well.
Union Station is a quartet of talented bluegrass musicians who could rightly be considered as bluegrass music's premier band. They provided a lot of the instrumental work in the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack and the concerts that followed in it's wake - you may have seen these on PBS a few years ago. Dan Tyminski (guitars, mandolin, vocals) became best known as the voice dubbed for George Clooney in that film, singing the lead on Man of Constant Sorrows. Jerry Douglas (dobro, slide guitar) has been in great demand nearly the past thirty years for his talents with the dobro. Ron Block (banjo, guitars, vocals) and Barry Bales (acoustic bass, vocals) round out the band, and help define the sound that makes Union Station so terrific.
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Way Down South in Dixie
Though I can't speak to the material on her previous albums (yet - gotta do something about that), I'm simply blown away by the music on this album. I love acoustic music, and over the past year, I've been exposed to a lot of bluegrass and country. Music just ain't the same here in Texas as it was back in California - I do miss my classic rock radio (KFOG!), but I've started to get used to the twang. I've even seen Pat Waters at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, and I finally got to see my brother's bluegrass band perform in Chicago - two concerts I wouldn't have enjoyed nearly as much just a few years ago.
To finally hear the sounds of Alison and Union Station on their new album is another wonderful revelation for me. It turns out I do like this music, so maybe I should finally get around to telling you why…
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Lonely Runs Both Ways
You could say that this recording runs two ways - lovesongs and life's heartaches that featureAlison's gorgeous vocals, and genuine foot stomping Americana that features the boys in the band. Alison's pure voice floats over the music and works it way into your heart; her tone is plaintive, melancholy and mesmerizing. I love the way she sings about romance and heartbreak; I can hear both the joy and the pain in her singing. Fans of adult contemporary will instantly compare her voice to those of Sarah MacLachlan or Jewel, both gifted singers with that breathy light tone favored these days, but Alison's voice is fuller, more mature and wiser than either of these others.
I think that after a few listens to the album, my favorite "Alison sings" tracks include Goodbye Is All We Have - one of the few songs where you actually notice that a drum is being played in the background. This is also one of the few songs where Alison's vocals are moving along at a good clip, though the lyrics are somewhat sad. In the chorus, she pulls on her voice throughout a nice arpeggio, illustrating the regret in the words. Another song that shows off her range is Crazy as Me, a pleasant guitar number about a woman who seems satisfied with her lot in life, but can't seem to find someone to share it with. Alison's voice climbs high with this thought, and hangs there momentarily, leaving the listener to wonder about her quandary too.
The simplest songs can be the most poignant, and A Living Prayeris my very favorite on this recording. With an accompaniment of just two guitars, Alison sings this beautiful new hymn, written by Ron Block, thanking God for his continued guidance, and offers a prayer that echoes another hymn written over a century ago…
Alison also pulls out her fiddle or a viola and joins the band for the more upbeat songs of Lonely Runs Both Ways. Songs such as Rain Please Go Away, This Sad Song are uptempo bluegrass, featuring Dan Tyminski on the lead vocals. These are true bluegrass songs, exploring the plight of the common man - these songs would have been genuine in the Appalachians or out on the prairie 150 years ago…
There's just one instrumental on the album, and Unionhouse Branch is a doozy. Each of the players get their chance with the lead, and in several places, the lead is doubled for the main theme. It's a neat piece, showing off the talents of each of the individual players. I'm glad they included it, for though the musicians are terrific on all of the other songs as well, it is easy to get caught up listening to Alison's beautiful voice and stunning delivery.
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it's never too late
I hate to admit that Lonely Runs Both Ways is actually the first complete recording by Alison Krauss and Union Station that I have ever listened to. I'm still not familiar with the recordings that have gone before, and I mean to rectify that oversight. How could I have missed all of this fabulous talent when it was right there in front of me all along?
Don't wait for the "duh!" moment to strike - Alison Krauss and Union Station have a lot of wonderful material in their discography. Lonely Runs Both Ways might be a great place to start your own collection…
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Alison Krauss and Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways
Originally released November 23, 2004 by Rounder Records.
Track Listing
Gravity / Restless / Rain Please Go Away / Goodbye is All We Have / Unionhouse Branch / Wouldn't Be So Bad / Pastures of Plenty / Crazy As Me / Borderline / My Poor Old Heart / This Sad Song / Doesn't Have to Be This Way / I Don't Have to Live This Way / If I Didn't' Know Any Better / A Living Prayer
Other Reviews
Here are a couple other reviews of Lonely Runs Both Ways that are worth reading - these ladies know quite a bit more about Alison Krauss and Union Station than I.
Follow-up to their Grammy-winning Platinum album, Live! Lonely Runs Both Ways is the highly anticipated new studio album from the world s finest purve...More at Buy.com
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