Review: Alison Krauss
5 stars
Alison Krauss and Union Station fans will not be disappointed with their first album together since 2004. It seems Krauss has gone back to her roots. Gently played acoustic guitar and the sweet voice of Krauss ringing just as sweet and delicate as ever on the title track “Paper Airplane” prove that the dynamic between Krauss and Union Station hasn’t changed during the break. Songs “Dust Bowl Children” and “On the Outside Looking In” begin with strong banjo and mandolin playing that put one in mind of the music from the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Reminiscent of Krauss’ work with Robert Plant, and written by her brother Viktor Krauss and songwriter Angel Snow, “Lie Awake” has a haunting underlying darkness, with lyrics such as “He’s right behind me. Please, God, I can’t be found.” With this album Krauss and Union Station are worthy of their No. 4 debut on the Billboard charts as it offers a familiar mix of pained beauty with a bluegrass sound.
