Customer Reviews

Everybodys Reaching Out for Someone

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

 

 

There are many "musical families" in the old-timey genre, and the best ones have a musician who really shines. The Cox Family is a family group with SEVERAL "stars". In particular brother and sister Sidney and Suzanne Cox have pleasant, yearning, soulful voices. Suzanne may be the closest thing in Bluegrass to Alison Krauss. And speaking of Alison - she orchestrated this recording, the Cox's debut on Ms. Krauss' Rounder label. Sidney has a great voice, but perhaps his greatest talent is as a songwriter, as Alison had already recorded several of his tunes including "I've Got That Old Feeling", which the Cox Family redoes here with Sidney singing lead and Suzanne and Alison providing heavenly harmony for on the choruses.

All of the numbers here make their mark, from the opening "Standing by the Bedside of a Neighbor" to the final ballad "Backroads". Alison lends not only her fine voice and ear, but also her bandmates at the time, and if there is a limitation to this recording it is that The Cox Family had a heck of a time in concert thereafter re-creating the instrumental tracks that were laid down by Union Station Wizards Adam Steffey, Ron Block, etc.

More "country" and less pop-sounding than Alison's own recordings, The Cox Family are simply a treat to listen to. No coincidence that they were asked to participate on the soundtrack for "O Brother, Where Art Thou"? (That's the Cox Family performing at the political rally while Holly Hunter is in the Woolworth arguing with George Clooney.)

Slick as they are, the Coxes are also quite soulful. This is a nice, solid set of country-drenched bluegrass vocal tunes, with a harmony style reminiscent of the Dolly Parton/Emmylou Harris/Linda Ronstadt "Trio" albums. Great song selection, a nice mix of sacred and secular material, several oldies by folks such as Bill Clifton, Jim & Jesse, and fine originals written by Sidney and Suzanne Cox. Recommended!

With "Everybody's Reaching Out For Someone" the Cox Family not only states the obvious but turns it into a beautiful theme explored through tracks that cover the range from pure-hick bluegrass to countryish ballads. Featuring clean vocal harmony and accomplished instrumental work, the star of the album is how the Cox Family brings it all together, not just in their conciseness of arrangements, but in their ability to make country and bluegrass accessible to more general listeners. "I've got that old feeling" has all the changeups of mellow bluegrass with enough hooks to catch the most burnt-out pop listener and take him for a delightful ride.

A fine selection of songs, impeccably performed by possibly the most talented family in Country music.

There's a bit of everything on offer - old-time country (Little white-washed chimney), gospel (When God dips his pen & Standing by the bedside), plus 4 originals by vocalist/guitarist Sidney Cox.

Of these, one - Backroads - is, to my mind, the finest Country song to emerge in the last 20 years. I'm not aware of any major artriste picking up on it, which I find baffling - it's superb!

This group is justifiably held in high regard by those in the know. Long may they continue to seve up albums of this calibre.

This is one of those albums you'll be listening to 20 years from now. It's that good! The breadth of talent displayed by the Cox Family is a rarity. The sweet infectious vocals on the swinging gospel opener hooked me instantly when I first heard this release 14 years ago. Every selection is a keeper. You won't be skipping over any tracks on this cd. It's a classic!

grrrrrrrrrreat grassy cd. i've always loved this group. alison krauss used to sing with them. the voices of angels... i promise :)

This CD is such a treasure -- the soulful, beautiful harmonies of the Cox Family, and the absolutely fantastic session musicians who weave their exquisite country/bluegrass magic throughout -- the simply delicious slide guitar playing of Kayton Roberts and Tommy White, Alison Krauss' fine arrangements and old timey fiddle playing to pull at your heartstrings. It's a perfect record....a testament to some kind of gentle and tender Southern vision. And 18 years later, the sweet poignancy that it evokes, calls to mind, stands in some kind of sharp contrast to the hard musical sentiments of today.