Alison Krauss - A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection

Curiously essential odds and ends collection

Marking 20 years of intelligent, thought-provoking Americana, this Krauss compendium opts not to follow the traditional best of route and instead concentrates on rescuing those gems which may have slipped through the cracks. That’s not to say it’s wilfully obscure, though. There’s space for glorious moments such as Down To The River To Pray, from the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou?, and the singer’s two Oscar-nominated numbers from Cold Mountain.

There’s also more movie work (The Prince Of Egypt), duets Krauss performed on other artists’ albums (John Waite, The Chieftains), plus half a dozen tracks never previously released. It’s a constantly surprising set, full of half-forgotten joys such as a version of Baby Mine, first heard in Disney’s Dumbo half a century ago, and a drop-dead gorgeous meeting with James Taylor on How’s The World Treating You?, first heard on a tribute album to The Louvin Brothers.

Krauss manages to evoke her bluegrass roots throughout, while elevating herself to a more mainstream platform without stumbling into the AOR territory of many of her contemporaries. This is the work of a sharp mind and a heart-shattering voice. As good as, if not better than, any other modern country star’s greatest hits.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Rounder | cat no tbc

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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