Music review: Alison Krauss – 鈥榃indy City鈥�
The retro styling of Alison Krauss鈥� outfit highlighted on the cover of her latest album provides an early hint as to what is in store on 鈥淲indy City.鈥�
The bluegrass-country star鈥檚 first solo release since 1999 features Krauss infusing her lush soprano to an engaging cover collection of classic country arrangements.
A remake of Brenda Lee鈥檚 鈥淟osing You鈥� serves as the hypnotic album opener and sets the stage for the upcoming tracks of heartache and sadness.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Goodbye and So Long to You鈥� follows with a sassiness that finds Krauss confidently closing the door on a bad relationship.
The title track possesses the allure and temptation that the big city has to offer a small-town visitor as Krauss desperately pleads for the city to release the grip it has on her lover.
For me, the highlight of the set comes on the stunning performance of Roger Miller鈥檚 鈥淩iver in the Rain.鈥� Krauss鈥� voice is both gentle and focused on this passionate number originally written for the 1985 Broadway musical 鈥淏ig River.鈥�
The Glen Campbell staple 鈥淕entle on My Mind鈥� has always been a country favorite of mine and Krauss鈥� take is comforting and nostalgic.
The 45-year-old singer鈥檚 version of Brenda Lee鈥檚 鈥淎ll Alone Am I鈥� is simply breathtaking as Krauss鈥� voice portrays a fragile vulnerability created from a heart that has been broken and abandoned.
Krauss also nails the emotional messages conveyed on Willie Nelson鈥檚 鈥淚 Never Cared for You鈥� and the Vern Gosdin hit 鈥淒ream of Me.鈥�
The Elmer Laird penned 鈥淧oison Love鈥� features backing vocals by Dan Tyminski and Jamey Johnson.
The Eddy Arnold and Ray Charles track 鈥淵ou Don鈥檛 Know Me鈥� closes the set by getting a tender makeover by Krauss as she softly serenades about lost love.
Krauss鈥� voice is spectacular throughout the album. Her angelic voice mesmerizes as it tenderly caresses each word of every lyric.
鈥淲indy City鈥� is vintage country and classic Krauss.