REVIEW: Folksy twang tugs on heartstrings
Whenever someone asks me what my favorite type of music is, I have a hard time knowing what to say. The safe response would be to say ‘alternative,’ but I feel like that’s a cop-out answer, as ‘alternative music’ has grown to be a catch-all label applied to music that doesn’t really fit anywhere else.
I am a cello performance major, so you could say the music I love enough to dedicate my life to is classical music, but I also like rock, pop, jazz and oldies, I’ve come to appreciate a little bit of rap and I selectively enjoy country.
Because of this complicated situation, I usually say what people are least expecting: bluegrass.
There are multiple reasons for this, not the least of which is that I’ve been in love with Sara Watkins – formerly of bluegrass band Nickel Creek – since I was 13. I actually find myself always turning back to bluegrass albums when the others get old.
For starters, I have to tell you that bluegrass and country are NOT the same thing. The main difference between the two is that bluegrass artists actually have musical ability, but there are others. Bluegrass is more legitimate.
Unlike modern country music, bluegrass is able to innovate and sound fresh while staying true to its roots. It seems that too often people forget that country was once Johnny Cash and Patsy Kline, because today a lot of it sounds like 80’s rock with a steel guitar and twangy lead vocals.
One of my first introductions to bluegrass was with the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” The old-timey music was one of the best aspects of the film, including the famous track “Man of Constant Sorrow,” performed by Dan Tyminski and lip-synced by George Clooney.
Tyminski himself is a member of one of the most influential bluegrass bands to date, Alison Krauss and Union Station. The fact that nobody has won more Grammy awards than Alison Krauss is a testament to that, as is the fact that she records with everyone from Willie Nelson to Robert Plant.
Fans of Alison Krauss have come to expect a few things from the band over the years, namely Krauss’s beautiful voice breaking your heart. This is often contrasted wonderfully with the more gruff voice of Tyminski, as well as incredible instrumental licks – especially from dobro player Jerry Douglas – and songs that don’t get old, no matter how many times you hear them.
“Paper Airplane” doesn’t fail in any of those aspects. They maintain their characteristic sound while keeping it fresh. Krauss continues to break my heart with her angelic yet simple voice, Douglas continues to make me ashamed to call myself a musician, and Tyminski continues to sing angst-filled songs about the difficulties of a farming life.
That is another distinguishing characteristic of Alison Krauss and Union Station. They sing songs that can actually relate to the western lifestyle, and I don’t mean the drunken hillbilly lifestyle. I mean the fact that on “Paper Airplane” is the song “Dust Bowl Children,” about the hardships of growing up in difficult times.
On their live album, they sing a song about a lazy farmer who was to lazy to hoe his field of corn, and paid the price by not getting the woman he wanted to marry because she saw how lazy he was. These aren’t just songs about a bunch of liquor-loving cowboys, they’re songs about a life that is actually worthwhile.
On the album, there are many incredibly emotional love songs sung by Krauss, such as “Dimming of the Day” and the title track, “Paper Airplane.” It seems that many of Krauss’s love songs tend to be sad, but you can’t help but love them. She is quoted on her website, alisonkrauss.com, as saying “The only thing you can do is record things that move you – that have a connection with you – and to represent yourself truthfully … . The only recipe is if it feels true and true may be incredibly sad. But that’s the part that feels good, because it’s truthful.”
Beautiful is probably the best word to describe this album. The musical aspect of it is incredible, and the lyrics delve deeply into emotional aspects that many artists seem to gloss over. If you want an honest album that won’t get old after many listens, I would say this album is one of your best bets.
– Colin is a sophomore music performance major that grew up on a cattle ranch near Vernon, Utah. He welcomes comments and suggestions at rex.colin.mitchell@aggiemail.usu.edu.