Live from Union Station

[JonMarsh]

If you have any interest in good live music, especially vocal and acoustic instruments (but amplified, granted), you just may want to check out Alison Krauss and Union Station Live.

It's available on CD, and on SACD Hybrid, which includes a DSD down converted CD layer, so it will play on any player.

Let's make this review simple and quick.

It sounds fabulous for a live disk, the performances are superb, and you get both SACD and state of the art CD layers... what's not to like? :B :banana:


Of course, when it comes to Alson Krauss, I do have a bit of a weakness... ;x(

:leghumper:

Well, I'd better close this down before I get any more out of control....

~Jon




Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....

[Burke Strickland]

Thanks for highlighting this remarkable album. It has a permanent place in my CD changer (both discs). That it also has a SACD layer is great future proofing although it was really icing on the cake regarding my purchase decision, given the low introductory price I found for it at Best Buy the week it was released.

As if the engaging peformances weren't enough, (gotta love Allison's voice whether she is singing or talking to the audience), the stellar sound makes it even more of a joy to listen to than their studio album with some of the same material, "New Favorite", which was also quite entertaining, but has been superceded here for sound quality and vivaciousness of the performances, in my opinion.

Even if you think you are not a fan of folk and/or bluegrass music, there are still bound to be several tracks that will get your attention and have you coming back for more. Well worth the relatively bargain price (even this far after release week). I just hope the artists are getting a fair share of the many sales dollars this one is bound to rake in.

Enjoy!

Burke

[JonMarsh]

Well, you know Burke, they're on Rounder Records, and this is one label that seems to be quite successful working outside the "normal" studio and radio system, and does a serious job (including a regular newsletter) of promoting their artists. I usually buy my disks from the direct, as a result; they have convenient web ordering.

http://www.rounder.com/

The performances are quite good on this disk, and highlight a slightly different approach to many cuts, but certainly reveal that the "original" success is due to talent, not just careful studio production.

Another gal I like from Rounder is Kathleen Edwards... very different style, but an interesting song writer.




With song titles like "One more song the radio won't like", you know this gal isn't quite mainstream- but as it turns out, that's in good way, IMO.


~Jon




Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....

[Danbry39]

First off, that look that Kathleen Edwards gives in that photo is seductive as...

Secondly, I have a hard time keeping up on newer music because I don't listen to music on radio and I have very varied taste.

However, when I read you talking about Alison Krauss, it definitely piqued my interest, especially as I really enjoy bluegrass and have heard a lot of buzz about her on the internet.

I took the plunge and went out and bought the CD and am offering my thanks. I love her singing. The song selection is excellent. But, to be honest, what I love most is the picking going on. What a great accoustic carpet they lay for her voice: guitar, accoustic bass, dobro, banjo...

I can't see how anyone can avoid tapping there feet to the music.

A suggestion to anyone with DVDA who enjoyed this disc: Get Nitty Gritty on the AIX label.




Keith

[JonMarsh]

Yes, there's some really fine pickin' on all the Union Station albums, and very well recorded, to boot. Even the live dobro work is excellent.

~Jon




Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....