Alison Krauss and Union Station
Lonely Runs Both Ways
Rounder Records
www.alisonkrauss.com

Although Alison Krauss found mainstream success with the platinum selling compilation Now That I've Found You, for nearly a decade Krauss was relatively unknown outside the bluegrass circuit. However, after the release of the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Krauss found astounding crossover approval. Striking while the iron was hot she and Union Station released New Favorite. Unlike their previous recordings, the disc was a clever mix of traditional mountain music alongside contemporary country which was more user friendly and accessible. After touring nonstop for just under four years on the strength of the award winning album, Alison Krauss and Union Station unveil their long awaited follow-up, Lonely Runs Both Ways.

The act doesn't stray from their proven formula, as this record possesses the same candy-coated-shell love songs adjacent to Bill Monroe-esque bluegrass. In the same way past projects have gently touched upon her relationship tribulations with Krauss's angelic vocals escorted by a crisp acoustic accompaniment, tracks such as "Restless", "Goodbye Is All We Have" and "Wouldn't Be So Bad" are compassionate and genuine. Guitarist/vocalist Dan Tyminski offers up a plateful of his signature dust bowl bluegrass with "Rain Please Go Away", "Pastures Of Plenty", and "This Sad Song". Naturally, the collection includes a traditional instrumental - with plentiful solos by everyone in the band - with "Unionhouse Branch". Krauss wears her red state color like a badge of honor with an ode to the Lord on "Living Prayer" to close things out.

While it would be almost impossible to follow up such a successful album as New Favorite, Alison Krauss and Union Station deliver a worthy successor with Lonely Runs Both Ways.

-Tony Engelhart

Track Listing:

1. Gravity
2. Restless
3. Rain Please Go Away
4. Goodbye Is All We Have
5. Unionhouse Branch
6. Wouldn't Be So Bad
7. Pastures Of Plenty
8. Crazy As Me
9. Borderline
10. Poor Old Heart
11. This Sad Song
12. Doesn't Have To Be This Way
13. I Don't Have To Live This Way
14. If I Didn't Know Any Better
15. A Living Prayer

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