Alison Krauss

I am so excited about this post because I am going to include so many videos of an artist and songs I adore!

Throughout my youth I rebelled against country music. It was a time of Billy Ray Cyrus and Alan Jackson, and I wanted none of it. Admittedly, I later learned to distinguish between crappy country music and good country music, much like other genres, but in my rebellious teenage years I wanted nothing to do with any of it….with one exception. Alison Krauss really was and is more of a bluegrass musician but with much country crossover.  Something about the unapologetic twang and clear and transcendent (and later more sultry) vocals, made me fall in love from the first time I heard her. It also helped that my choral-inclined friends were into her and we would (try to) break into the four-part harmony for this song.

There is plenty of reference to god and religion in her songs, and although they don’t fall in line with my beliefs I still respect their absolute beauty. I even played this song for my very catholic mother, she cried when she heard it and we shared a connection through this song.

Because I listen to it, of course there is much angst and sadness in her music. When I last saw her in concert she even mentioned that her songs tended to be quite depressing. As I feel about music though, there’s beauty in the sadness. It may sound a bit overdramatic but her 2004 album, Lonely Runs Both Ways, has imprinted on my soul. Whenever I hear a song from that album I am just overcome with emotion. (Side note: I tend to have a strong connection with art and entertainment from the year 2004. Could be because I moved to New York that year and was extra emotionally sensitive.)

You may notice in some of these videos a reference to the Union Station. That’s her band and its chock full of talented musicians, including Dan Tyminski (of O Brother Where Art Thou fame “I am a man of constant sorrow”….that’s him) and Jerry Douglass (well established guitarist and producer). She’s also collaborated with some seriously amazing people outside of her band, like Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, to name a few.

These two together make me so happy.

But my most unanticipated favorite collaboration of hers was with Robert Plant. When they released a whole album together I thought to myself, “what is this about? huh?” Then I heard it and was like, "oh, okay!". This was clearly a collaboration in which both artists brought out strengths in each other. It was a new sound for both and it was sooooooo good!

By the way, I think “echoes of light that shine like stars after they’re gone” is possibly my favorite lyric of all time. This song was written by Sam Phillips in honor of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and I just love it all around.

You don’t have to take my word for how amazing she is.  She has won 27 Grammys and countless other awards in her 30+ year career. There's no sensation or vanity involved, its just very good music. An inspiration, indeed. 

Okay, here's another one....