Customer Reviews

Coal Country Music

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some of the most powerful and beautiful voices in country and folk music come together on this fantastic compilation. A companion to the documentary "Coal Country," which explores the impact mountaintop removal mining has on West Virginia, the songs evoke a past time in Appalachia and a call to action to stop the devastation. "Now is the Cool of the Day" by the legendary Jean Ritchie and "Which Side are You On?" by Natalie Merchant are haunting, and you'll be singing John Prine's "Paradise" all day. The CD's great on its own, but proceeds go to fight against mountaintop removal mining and build a sustainable future for Appalachia, which makes it even better!

I heard about this CD a few months ago and am so excited I can finally get it! The Willie Nelson track is a real gem - not available anywhere else! Plus Jean Richie, Ralph Stanley, Gillian Welch - it's just a great mix!

Plus, the money goes to a great cause, ending mountaintop removal, which destroys the communities that this amazing music was born in. So, overall, I'm really glad I got this CD you should get it too - for the music and the great cause!

absolutely amazing CD Would recommend it to anyone who likes, bluegrass, Americana, folk and Country. It has a little bit of everything!

From Ralph Stanley to Willie Nelson, this album shines with brilliance. I love Natalie Merchant's version of "Which Side Are You On?" and Diana Jones' "Oh Appalachia." And of course John Prine's classic, "Paradise" says everything you need to know about the relationship between the coal companies and the land that they destroy, and are still destroying to this day -- only now, instead of the forests and farms of western Kentucky where John Prine's parents were born, it's the mountains of Appalachia, the oldest mountains on Earth and the birthplace of much of what we think of as American music, culture, and heritage. Thank you Kathy Mattea, Bonnie Raitt, Tom T. Hall, the Klezmatics, Gillian Welch, Jason and the Scorchers, Justin Townes Earle, Jean Ritchie, and all the other great artists on this album for helping to raise awareness about the tragedy unfolding in the mountains of Kentucky, West Virginia and neighboring states. Special mention to Darrell Scott for the previously unreleased live version of his classic song, "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive," and to Willie Nelson for his never before released cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind." A truly great compilation for a truly important cause.

The music takes me back to sitting in the mountains of Upshur County, WV listening to my grandpa on his fiddle and banjo. The music is genuine, emotional, and heart felt. Buying this CD will not only add a true gem to your music collection, it will aid those who are in the trenches, working tirelessly to end the atrocity that is mountain top removal mining.

This CD is eminently listenable; the different styles are refreshing in diversity and beautifully heartfelt. I've listened to this CD repeatedly and enjoyed it so much that I bought one as a gift too. The opening few bars are a little strange, but in the end it all works. Regardless of the cause being aided by this CD, it's just good music.

Coal Country Music Deluxe beautifully presents the history of Appalachia's heartache that began more than 125 years ago with the incursion of the Coal Baron into poor uneducated mountain communities. The songs on this album are a reflection of a long struggle that continues even to this day as Appalachian Mountain Communities fight for their civil rights, their land, water, and air that are being taken away and poisoned by the coal mining method known as mountaintop removal. This album's beautifully written songs weave the story of the Hillbilly Heartache.

The music from the Ozark noir flick 'Winter's Bone' is about to hit the stands, it will be worth checking out as the movie had something we need to ponder. 'Coal Country Music' covers some of the same mountain territory, but this CD is more an energizer than a head trip. I'd say it's right up there w/ Art Rosenbaum's "The Art of Field Recording" as giving an in-depth look into mountain culture. Actually it makes you feel good and see there is something we can do to slow down the monster in its tracks. It is also great morning music, right up there w/ Dan Zanes and Ozark Mtn Daredevils...

What a great CD. Found it on the Bonnie Raitt site, and bought one for my brother-in-law too. Great music!

We purchased this for someone else because they had borrowed a copy and really liked it.