ALISON KRAUSS
Forget About It (Rounder)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Just Alison Krauss. No Union Station this time out (though the names of Union Station members show up in the musician's credits). And when she picks up the instrument that first brought her to everyone's attention, it's more likely credited as strings than as fiddle this time around. And the songwriters! Todd Rundgren? Michael McDonald?

What's up with Alison? Well, fans have watched her grow up personally, so it's no wonder that she's also grown considerably musically as well. Not that she's abandoned her roots completely. The presence of names like Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Barry Bales and Viktor Krauss should reassure long time followers. Those songwriting credits show that she's busy making new friends, but guest appearances by Dolly Parton, Lyle Lovett and the Cox Family reveal that she's still hanging around the old neighborhood.

Still, there's a difference on this disc, and it can be summed up in a word. Maturity. Alison Krauss is all grown up now, and she doesn't need to use flashy licks to get our attention or traditional styles to establish her credibility. She can do any damn thing she wants, and she can do it better than damn near anybody else. It doesn't matter whether you're talking about pop, country or bluegrass, she has one of the flat out most beautiful voices in the world. It doesn't matter whether you call that thing in her hands a fiddle, a violin or a kumquat, she plays it every style about as well as anyone in any style.

She's just that good. And so is this new CD.

Track List:

Stay * Forget About It * It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference * Maybe * Empty Hearts * Never Got Off The Ground * Ghost In This House * It Doesn't Matter Now * That Kind Of Love * Could You Lie * Dreaming My Dreams With You

© 2000 - Shaun Dale