Alison Krauss, Union Station - Paper Airplane
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Artist: Alison Krauss, Union StationEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2011-04-12
Music Label: Rounder
Soundtracks:
- Paper Airplane
- Dustbowl Children
- Lie Awake
- Lay My Burden Down
- My Love Follows You Where You Go
- Dimming Of The Day
- On The Outside Looking In
- Miles To Go
- Sinking Stone
- Bonita and Bill Butler
- Opening Farewell
Music reviews of Paper Airplane
Music Review: Paper Airplane Takes Off Carrying a Heavy Load-and the Flight is Spectacular
Rating: 5 Stars
First of all, let me advise anyone reading this that this review is based on the 14 studio track, 3 live track Deluxe Edition available at Target.
Paper Airplane, the first album from Alison Krauss and Union Station since their stellar and multi-Grammy Award winning Lonely Runs Both Ways in 2004 finds the group playing through what is primarily a set of somber and slow paced songs. While such is nothing new for given the tone of Forget About It and most Union Station albums in recent years, this album seems a bit darker than usual even for them. Krauss has described the theme of the album as generally being along the lines of "being in the middle of something that is going bad and seeing that it's coming to an end...but you're not there yet" and that would certainly explain the foreboding that fills many of the tracks and gives album a bit of heaviness.
With all that said, the 14 studio tracks motor along with nothing but first rate musicianship and vocals with, in my opinion, Dan Tyminski delivering some of the best songs he has ever done with the group. His assertive delivery on "On the Outside Looking In", "Dustbowl Children" and "Bonita and Bill Butler" give a little added punch to an album that needs some. Interestingly, this is first record in many to not include a songwriting contribution and lead vocal track from Ron Block but his presence is well felt as his banjo playing in particular is more prominent than on Lonely Runs Both Ways or New Favorite. Jerry Douglas continues his stint with the group and it is a treat, as always, to hear one of the great musical masters of his time playing. Douglas' Dobro is so expressive alongside Alison's vocals and fills the bridges of songs in such a way that it almost serves as a second vocalist.
Of the 8 tracks on the standard edition that Alison sings on, several deserve special mention as they are highlights:
Paper Airplane-first off, the title track (and only Robert Lee Castleman contribution) is the best on the album both lyrically and musically. Castleman continues to prove that, when he is on his game, no one can write lyrics quite like he can; with lines like "every silver lining seems to have a cloud that comes my way; anticipated pleasure or unexpected pain", "waiting inside for the cold to get colder", "people come together, people go their own way...and love conquers few", "how many days must I smile with a frown" and "innocence is fair game, I hope I can hold it in" and some unbelievable mandolin playing by Tyminski, "Paper Airplane" has quickly rocketed to the top of my list of best AKUS songs ever recorded.
My Love Follows You Where You Go- a really, really close second-lyrics like "take forgiveness, take a prayer, take the deepest breath; and take the answers in your heart. When you wake up and the world is cruel and cold-my love follows you where you go. Future like a promise, you're a city of gold; stubborn in your bones with Jesus in your soul, seeing you stand there staring at the unknown-I won't pretend it's not killing me watching you walk away slow" combined with simply out of this world banjo work by Ron Block and, towards the end, Dobro work by Douglas make this one of the most spirited on the record.
Frozen Fields-just a beautiful, heart wrenching song. I wish could understand why artists cut certain tracks or push them to "deluxe" editions like is occuring more and more recently because when I hear songs like this that the large majority of buyers will never hear its too bad. With an almost waltz like pacing and intricate, haunting arrangement (including some suddle but spine tingling mandolin parts), Frozen Fields is easily one of the 5 best songs of the 14 on this album. With lyrics like "I walked along the fence road, thought of all the work I had to do; you jumped right in there between my thoughts-now wouldn't that be just like you? And though all the fields are frozen now, I was wondering where you are. Life goes by in mid-July just like it does on New Year's Day; so I find comfort in the good old times....you don't feel so far away. Could it be you found yourself like this and I just crossed your mind; you're wandering through the frozen fields-and the world stops on a dime. Now I know it won't be long till summer comes and these fields will be full and green" the song paints a pictures, a mini-movie almost, with words in a fashion rarely done quite this well.
Dimming of the Day-it's very difficult to take a song that so many people know and make it into something that feels like its being heard for the first time again, but they manage to pull it off. This cover of the classic is so so sad that it brought tears to my eyes. Alison's voice drips with want and longing while Jerry Douglas' Dobo playing, especially his solo, is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.
Lie Awake-this is a really dark song atmospherically. Alison plays a couple fiddle parts that, while not really overt add this almost creepy feeling to the song that makes me feel like I'm lying in the dark at night. This song reminds me very much of "New Favorite" in pacing and tone and is probably the most adventurous and gritty on the album.
Of the songs on the deluxe edition, 3 are studio tracks and 3 are live tracks (all three culled from the Live album the band did some years back). The other two studio tracks that are added with Frozen Fields are both Angel Snow/Viktor Krauss songs (same as Lie Awake is); remember that name-Angel Snow as she is an undeniable talent in her own right and her influence on These Days and A Place Outside is similar to Lie Awake-there is a gritty edge to everything which, as many reviews I have noted in pointing to Lie Awake as a special track, represents somewhat of a different direction for the band and its something that is pleasant to hear.
I have been asked by several people if going to the trouble and spending the extra money (this week $14 vs, $10) for the Target Deluxe is worth it and I would say 100% yes; even if you have heard the 3 live tracks already you are only spending a little over a $1 a track for 3 additional songs that, far from being cast offs or filler, were likely meant to be included in a 14 track standard edition had the deal not be struck with Target. While the album is an unqualified 5 star album without these 3 additional tracks, its all that much more impressive with them so if you can get your hands on the 3 songs one way or another, I would recommend you do so.
In closing, after spending a week listening to Paper Airplane, I have no reservations assigning it 5 stars. It stands alongside its predecessors as another stellar effort by a group of people that are amongst the greatest musicians of their time and who know not only how to pick lyrically well written songs, but craft them into true works of art. In a musical landscape increasingly filled with noise, where technology is increasingly being substituted for talent and craft, Alison Krauss and Union Station continues to be the most visible and popular torchbearer for music that results from the special combination of natural talents, hard work and chemistry. Paper Airplane is one of the finest albums in recent years and is a worthy addition to the AKUS catalog-and yours.
Description of Paper Airplane
A truly breathtaking collection of 11 exquisite songs, Paper Airplane is Alison Krauss' 14th album and the band's follow-up to 2004's triple Grammy® winning Lonely Runs Both Ways (Rounder). It is Krauss' first release since her 2007 internationally acclaimed, multi-platinum collaboration with Robert Plant, Raising Sand, which won six Grammys including "Record Of The Year" and "Album Of The Year."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.
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