is it possible Alison Krauss doesn't have her own thread yet? (c/d, s/d, etc.)

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Seems to be. I thought to look after her Sting-rescuing operation on the Oscars. So anyway, she deserves one. The thing with her is that she's not always the most discriminating artist -- she has a weakness for schlock -- but she's such a fine singer that even the schlock gets elevated a notch or two. And her catholicism pays dividends too, like "Now That I've Found You," in which she perfectly isolates the loneliness and desperation in a semi-lost R&B gem and turns it into total heartbreak ("you don't need me/ you don't neeeeeeeeed me"). I've seen her live twice and she was honest-to-god stunning. At one show, she stepped to the front of the stage, away from the microphone, and sang unamplified and a capella and totally filled up the 2,000-seat theater with her voice. Her phrasing actually reminds me of Sarah Vaughan more than anyone else; she has that kind of emotional precision. And if that means she can seem a little held-back, or even aloof (possible readings of Vaughan too), it also implies a kind of hidden vulnerability that makes the surface strength of her singing that much more beguiling -- strong on top, but careful enough underneath to make you wonder what she's hiding.

Anyway, classic, obviously. And that's without even talking about the fiddle playing, about which I can only say that she plays like she sings.

― spittle (spittle), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 09:48 (twenty-one years ago)

All of which is leaving aside the issues of fidelity to her band and her label, her assorted choices to push bluegrass to the places she wanted it to go rather than walking out on it altogether (when every label in Nashville was waving money in her face), a sort of non-purist loyalty to the spirit rather than the letter of the music.

― spittle (spittle), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 09:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Oops. Where'd the picture go?
http://www.photophile.com/merlefest/merlefest2002/images/merlefest2002image48.jpg

― spittle (spittle), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 09:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd say classic, certainly, although the airbrushed Starbucksyness of it all is a little tough to take. I tuned out after "Now That I've Found You" (really the only record of hers I like end-to-end,) but that...well, who sings as beautifully as she does? The young Dolly Parton, maybe. Smokey Robinson, maybe. Those are the only two I can think of.

― M Specktor, Tuesday, 2 March 2004 10:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I prefer when she balances the MOR stuff with a few shitkicking breakdowns, which she's done less of over the years. And her production work (I'm thinking especially Nickel Creek) is pretty drecky. She needs to hook up with Jerry Wexler or Timbaland or something.

― spittle (spittle), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 10:32 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG Timbaland and Alison Krauss I think I just made some trouser salad thinking about it!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 15:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Search "Everytime You Say Goodbye". It's a true Union Station effort with the boys in the band taking over on a few tracks and two absolutely perfect songs, the title track and "Lose Again".

― BrianB (BrianB), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

That voice is pure butter; Classic.

Also, she should record on Sugar Hill or Flying Fish; nothing wrong with Rounder, i think she'd have picked up more versatile production techniques with some other labels.

― christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Plus she apparently had friends of mine (from Cordelia's Dad) organize a Sacred Harp vocal group to sing with her (AND without her!) at the Oscars. (And I think she can use whatever production techniques she damn well wants...)

― Douglas (Douglas), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

she has a truly beautiful voice. I have not heard nearly enough of her music, but a friend of mine who is my go-to country expert speaks highly of a some of her stuff.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Intro post pretty otm. Except that, while more people should know about her voice, those who already do tend to overrate it. Every Time You Say Goodbye is a nice album, though less compelling than the greatest hits.

Her "Now That I Found You" was the first song on the most significant mix I ever made.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

six months pass...

All you need is her Live 2 disc cd and you are in fine shape. The band is featured quite a bit on it, especially Jerry Douglas. Alison and Mindy Smith are the two best female country singers going right now.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Sunday, 5 September 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Spittle is OTM: she has that shclock factor, but she makes it half-decent where in other hands it's just bad. Her 'Now That I've Found You' is one of the greatest recorded covers I can think of by a country artist - the mix of spareness, precision, richness, purity, mischief.

― the bellefox, Tuesday, 7 September 2004 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i think she's great. really enjoyed the live austin thing.

but why does it look like she's not singing when she is? she barely moved her lips!

that pic makes her look like cameron diaz. but he nose is much wider than cameron's.

― AaronK (AaronK), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 13:59 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

The new album, Lonely Runs Both Ways, has made an appearance on slsk.

Just... wow!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 13 November 2004 00:31 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

wow, her version of "dreaming my dreams" is nice.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 5 May 2005 05:34 (twenty years ago)

Classic. Saw her last month, saw her when she was like 16. One of the best voices going today. Still a shithot fiddler. Still lets her bandmates take lead vocals (live and on record). And she's geeky/funny too!

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Thursday, 5 May 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

Once when I saw her she made burp and fart jokes, in that flaaaaat Midwestern voice, and snorted when she laughed. She's got this totally endearing kid-sister persona, and then she starts singing and it's like an entirely different person has taken the stage.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 5 May 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

eight months pass...

Well now in addition to Live I would recommend getting Lonely Runs Both Ways, having only recently gotten it I must say it is very good. Here's to hoping Alison and crew take home that Best Country Album Grammy.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Saturday, 4 February 2006 15:38 (nineteen years ago)

Years ago a friend was dicking around with a new sampler, and grabbed the "My world around you" bit from "Now That I've Found You", which he then looped over a slower-than-molasses hip-hop beat. Still one of the most spooky-beautiful things I've ever heard.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Saturday, 4 February 2006 16:11 (nineteen years ago)

six months pass...

I've been listening to her for as long as she has been putting out recorded music - my dad was an EARLY fan. He actually told a great story about seeing Tony Rice on the Church Street Blues tour, where he played by himself for almost an entire 2 hour set. But then AK came out, and just pwned.

At least five times during Now that I've Found You , I found myself just overcome with joy b/c of the harmonies. Holy shit.

Love her. Love, love, love.

― Esquire, Bitch. (Big Loud Mountain Ape), Monday, 28 August 2006 18:15 (nineteen years ago)

i haven't listened to her much in a little while but she and her band popped up on sesame street the other day while my kid was watching it and they sounded great. she did a duet with the count.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Monday, 28 August 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

nine years pass...

I heard this in the doctor's office today and had to google it, I had no idea about this! I wonder if it led to the eventual collaboration?

Viktor Krauss - "Big Log" cover (feat. his sister Alison on vox):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFg1vS7OXdU

― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Monday, 18 July 2016 17:46 (nine years ago)

Maybe I should post this in the other thread...

― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Monday, 18 July 2016 17:47 (nine years ago)

That cover of Big Log is a great find.

The video isn't great on this one below but it's a fantastic rendition of a classic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1XDkeo-vtU

― that's not my post, Tuesday, 19 July 2016 05:50 (nine years ago)

six months pass...

this is nice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o_HEIxpMII

― velko, Saturday, 18 February 2017 01:59 (eight years ago)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/arts/music/alison-krauss-windy-city-interview.html?_r=0

Talking about the new album and her voice coach

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 18 February 2017 06:22 (eight years ago)

I love this album. You can hear it on the NPR First Person website.

― banjoboy, Saturday, 18 February 2017 08:22 (eight years ago)

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