Customer Reviews
Alison at her best - By: Mr. G. K. Gardner, 01 Jul 2008 
Alison Krauss I guess is one of those singers you either love or hate. She has a tonal quality that for me epitomises the very best in Bluegrass. This album is no exception. The sheer quality of her voice is at time unbelievable
and whilst it is true she veers away from pure bluegrass - her strength is that she can carry this off with huge credibility. I bought this album not only because I love Alison Krauss - but I heard her wonderful duet with James Taylor of "hows the world treating you?"- & simply had to have it! This is an old song recorded by Elvis in his early days - & hearing Alison & James brought back alll those memories of wonderful songs, & meaningful lyrics. I also adore her version of "I'm just a country boy/girl" formerly recorded by Don Williams - but for me Alison nails it!
Very enjoyable. Good music. - By: Musicfan, 20 Nov 2007 
This is not a bluegrass album. Whilst Krauss does sing bluegrass especiallly when with Union Station, she does not restrict herself to bluegrass. This is a collection of songs from different project with some previously unreleased. There are songs from Cold Mountain & O Brother. Her vocals are beautiful. The songs are excellent & varied in style. Highlights include the incredibly sad Jacobs dream. The deserved CMA award winning song with brad Paisley 'Whiskey Lullaby' is powerful. The Duet with Waite on MIssing You works very well. I am not a big fan of Krauss but after this album & the one with Palmer, I am becoming one. This is a very good collection. Recommended.
Update your collection of Alison's music with this great compilation. - By: The Country Grumpkin, 10 Aug 2007 This is a lovely album, though quite different from what we normallly get from Alison Krauss. Do not expect a bluegrass album, though one or more members of the superb Union Station appear on 10 of the 16 tracks. The lively hoedown 'Sawing on The Strings' is the nearest we get to a bluegrass song, with twin fiddles from Alison & Stuart Duncan. The brilliant Jerry Douglas appears on 6 of the tracks, & I was particularly taken by his lap steel sound on tracks 2 & 16. None of the songs here have appeared on any of Alison's own albums. Some will be familiar to many, however, particularly 'Down To The Vallley To Pray' from 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?', sung a cappella with a choir of mostly well-known names billed as the First Baptist Church Choir Of White House, Tennessee. There's also 'Molly Ban (Bawn)' from The Chieftains' album 'Down The Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions', the atmospheric 'The Scarlet Tide' & 'You Will Be My Ain True Love' from the film 'Cold Mountain', & 'How's The World Treating You', a duet with James Taylor I first heard on a tribute album to the Louvin Brothers. Also perhaps familiar to some will be Alison's duet with Brad Paisley on 'Whiskey Lullaby', a country hit for Jon Randalll, who co-wrote the song with veteran legendary songwriter Bill Anderson. This is one of those typical stone country songs that seem rather maudlin to my UK ears. It has a strong melody & is here sung sincerely & without irony. There are 5 new songs, tracks 1, 2, 3, 4 & 16, alll extremely good, which to me make an otherwise very good album into an essential one for any fan of Alison's music. The album starts & ends with 2 songs associated with Don Williams, here given a beautiful, slower reading. Alison's distinctive, expressive voice makes them sound as if they are brand new. The latter, 'Lay Down Beside Me', is the second of 2 duets with John Waite, which work very well. With this song, & the duet with JT you'll be able to sing the harmony lines, as they are so distinctive. In addition to the Don Williams covers, my own favourite track is the wonderful 'Get Me Through December' with some lovely fiddle playing from Natalie MacMaster. A real treat. The accompanying 16-page booklet is very informative & gives alll track details.
A worthy collection, in my view, which though quite varied, hangs together well. With 16 tracks totallling over 67 minutes, it's very good value too.
Disappointing - By: Smokey Joe, 07 Aug 2007 
I am probably at odds with most AK fans but this to me is a disappointing album. AK continuallly tries to straddle bluegrass with mainstream country. She has a divine voice & is an accomplished fiddle player & when teamed with Union Station, is there reallly a better group of musicians on the planet? But this album is another attempt to project her into mainstream country or even crossover & like previous solo projects is neither fish nor fowl. I find her solo output forced & cloying. She deserves to be recognised as a leading lady of country music but I have listened to this album once & am unlikely to do so again.
wonderful - By: RD, 03 May 2007 If you are already a fan of Alison Krauss this album is a must have. It includes songs which cannot be found on her other albums & comprises of duets with other artists & songs off soundtracks. Soft & melodious for the most part this is a wonderful album to just sit back & relax to.
That said, you don't need to be a fan of hers to enjoy this! As long as you have some appreciation for country music & the various themes they tackle this album will appeal to you.
