UPDATE! Just wanted to update this post with a review of the title track single. The upshot of the review: “This track, the title piece from the new album, finds Krauss and her virtuous band once again reminding us why they have become such a golden beacon in today’s country landscape.” But there’s more, so go read the review. But first, my article as originally published:
I can’t decide what is lovelier: the voice of Alison Krauss or…Alison Krauss herself! If I had the tiger blood of Charlie Sheen and was capable of gathering my own harem of goddesses, I’d try my darndest to bring Alison into the fold, if only so she could play that fiddle and sing to me with that gorgeous voice of hers. But I digress!
April 12th is going to be an important day for me. I’ll be extremely busy procrastinating on my taxes for one thing. And for another, Alison has a new album coming out, a solo effort to follow up her worldwide, Grammy-winning smash with Robert Plant, Raising Sand. And at some point during the day, I aim to shed myself of receipts and bills and tax forms and give it a listen.
The new record is titled Paper Airplane and here’s a little video clip to whet the appetite for it:
According to her website, Paper Airplane is produced by Alison and Union Station, and it contains “11 songs of poignancy and austere beauty, chosen with the impeccable taste and unerring intuition that have characterized her entire body of work, delivered by this world-class unit with an immediacy that goes beyond mere virtuosity.”
Ya know, marketing copy in press releases can head very quickly into hyperbole…and Starcasm loves that! But in Alison’s case, I don’t think it can be disputed that one of the hallmarks of her career, since she burst onto the scene as a precocious singer and player in the mid-’80s, is having “impeccable taste”. Her stalwart loyalty to Union Station, her dignified evolution from quirky teen fiddle player to jaw-droppingly beautiful hitmaker, her incorporation of pop and rock classics into her bluegrass idiom – all these things mark a woman who has the taste to build an audience with class and character; she doesn’t alienate her old fans and yet she is constantly bringing new ones on board.
What some would have labeled as risky (and plenty did at the time) – her collaboration with former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant – turned out in hindsight to be an absolutely perfect pairing of seemingly disparate performers. But there’s that word “taste” again, something both Alison and Robert have in spades. In that sense, Raising Sand should have been predicted to be a slam dunk. Let’s take a quick trip back three years ago to remind ourselves of the majestic music these two made:
So here we come back to Paper Airplane. Named after the title track, penned by songwriter Robert Lee Castleman while Ms. Krauss toiled in his kitchen cooking up grilled cheese sandwiches, the album promises to be a strong follow-up to Raising Sand and re-certify Alison’s status as bluegrass music’s solo star standard bearer. (One cool thing you can do by visiting her website is sign up for her email newsletter, which entitles you to a free download of the “Paper Airplane” song.)
Here is the full track listing for the album:
1. Paper Airplane
2. Dustbowl Children
3. Lie Awake
4. Lay My Burden Down
5. My Love Follows You Where You Go
6. Dimming Of The Day
7. On The Outside Looking In
8. Miles To Go
9. Sinking Stone
10. Bonita and Bill Butler
11. Opening Farewell
Another one of the exciting tracks on the album is the Richard Thompson heartbreaker, “Dimming of the Day.” Here’s the original version by Richard and his wife Linda from their 1975 album, Pour Down Like Silver. Once Alison’s version comes out, it’s likely hers will become the standard you’ll hear all over the place. It’s one of the most gorgeous songs to come from Richard, and it’s one that Alison will totally nail. But that goes without saying.
While you’re waiting for April 12 to roll around you can read a great interview with Alison about Paper Airplane at TheBoot.com! Here’s a little excerpt in which Alison talks a little bit about the title track from the album:
‘Paper Airplane’ was written by Robert Lee Castleman. He’s someone whose songs you’ve recorded quite a bit. How did that song find its way to you?
…When I called R.L., who’s been a center of our recordings for the past 12 to 15 years, he said, “I’ve been going to the ocean, going to the places I used to go when I was heartbroken and I just can’t find it.” After a long conversation, he said, “Just come over and sit here and talk to me.” So, I drove over there. When I walked in the door, he had a melody and it was ‘Paper Airplane.’ It was beautiful. I said, “Well, what are you gonna do now?” He said, “I’ll wait.” I said, “Wait for what?” [laughs] He said, “It’ll be here about midnight.” It’s like a download for him. Completely inspired. He doesn’t mess around with it, he just waits. And there it was, ‘Paper Airplane.’ I just loved it.
And a bit more Alison Krauss and Union Station admiration from the fine folks at Rounder Records:
Alison Krauss and Union Station features the talents of Krauss (fiddle and lead vocals), Dan Tyminski (guitar, mandolin and lead vocals), Barry Bales (bass and harmony vocals), Ron Block (banjo, guitar and harmony vocals), and Jerry Douglas (Dobro and harmony vocals). Paper Airplane was produced by the band and recorded in Nashville with engineer Mike Shipley (Maroon 5, The Cars, Def Leppard, Joni Mitchell). As bluegrass virtuosos the members of Union Station are beyond compare, and the music they create together transcends all genres. Their work on films such as Cold Mountain and O Brother, Where Art Thou? has contributed immeasurably to a renaissance of American roots music.
Part of Alison Krauss’ incontestable talent is how effortlessly she bridges the gap between roots music and country, rock and pop. A highly sought-after collaborator, Krauss has worked with some of the biggest names in popular music, including James Taylor, Phish, Dolly Parton, Yo Yo Ma & Bonnie Raitt. Since signing with Rounder Records at the age of 14 in 1985 Krauss has sold in excess of 12 million albums and garnered 26 Grammy® Awards, the most for any female and the third most of any recording artist in Grammy® history.
Come on, April 12th! Doing my taxes will be a far less taxing proposition with a new Alison Krauss record to keep me company. I wonder if I can write it off…???
Top Photo: Carrie Devorah / WENN.com
