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Title: Alison Krauss and Union Station – Live (2002)
Genre: Country
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This SACD earns 5 stars for the exceptional performance by Alison Krauss & Union Station. The musicians are crisp, clear, and balanced, making their instruments sing with life. They blend technical skill with soulful expression, a rare gift that shines throughout. Alison’s vocals are strong and natural, fitting perfectly with the instrumentation, despite some noting a “thin” quality. Union Station’s supporting vocals are solid, but the instruments steal the show. The recording gets 4 stars due to the lack of music in the center channel, missing a fuller live stage effect. Aside from this, the recording quality is flawless, capturing the band’s great performance. The thin vocal miking, common in Krauss’ work, could use more heft but isn’t a major issue. This double album feels like a “Greatest Hits” collection, including O Brother, Where Art Thou? tracks like “I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow.” Recorded in DSD, it delivers the master recording quality, making it a valuable addition despite minimal between-song chatter.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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Title: Alison Krauss & Union Station – New Favorite (2001) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Country
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

New Favorite, the ninth album by Alison Krauss & Union Station, was released in 2001. It reached the top 50 of the Billboard 200 and top 5 in Country and Bluegrass charts, earning gold certification. Released alongside the influential O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, it followed Krauss’ contribution to that project. The album won the 2002 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, with “The Lucky One” winning Best Country Performance by a Duo/Group and Best Country Song. Unlike the traditional O Brother sound, New Favorite is the band’s slickest, most progressive work. It blends contemporary country, as in Krauss’ Forget About It, with Dan Tyminski’s progressive bluegrass. The album’s polished production, with heavy reverb, may alienate traditional bluegrass fans. Stellar musicianship shines, with Ron Block’s banjo, Tyminski’s guitar, and Jerry Douglas’ dobro, though the latter is muted by echoes. The call-and-response vocals on “Daylight” are a highlight, but Krauss’ fiddle is underutilized. Despite moments of brilliance, New Favorite lacks the vibrant spirit of their 1997 album So Long So Wrong.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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Title: Alison Krauss – Now That I’ve Found You (1995) [Reissue 2002]
Genre: Country
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Now That I’ve Found You: A Collection is a 1995 retrospective album by Alison Krauss, released on February 7. It compiles tracks from her solo albums, Alison Krauss & Union Station, and a Cox Family collaboration. The album includes some new material alongside earlier recordings. Krauss, a bluegrass prodigy, had recorded for a decade before achieving fame. This collection became a surprise hit, reaching number two on country charts and Top 15 on pop charts. Its success was remarkable for a bluegrass artist without prior mass appeal. Krauss was a leading figure in late ’80s and early ’90s bluegrass, blending innovation with tradition. The album highlights her career’s key moments, showcasing her versatility and talent. It captivates new listeners, encouraging exploration of her full discography. Now That I’ve Found You solidifies Krauss’ status as a bluegrass pioneer.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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Title: Alison Krauss – Forget About It (1999) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Country
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Alison Krauss gets introspective and personal on her seventh album, one of her solo outings that shoves Union Station in the background while conventional country steps up to the spotlight. But Krauss is a little too sharp for Nashville standard, so Forget About It sounds more like an adult pop album with occasional notes of country grace. Unfortunately, the material here isn’t very inspired (despite a dip into the Todd Rundgren songbook and the fine title tune), and Krauss herself has a hard time elevating it. Still, her fragile, angelic voice is capable of working wonders, which it often does with even the weakest of songs. A marginal effort.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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