|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Get $1 in Amazon MP3 credit with qualifying purchase. Limited to one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Editorial Reviews
A truly breathtaking collection of 11 exquisite songs, Paper Airplane is Alison Krauss' 14th album and the band's follow-up to 2004's triple Grammy® winning Lonely Runs Both Ways (Rounder). It is Krauss' first release since her 2007 internationally acclaimed, multi-platinum collaboration with Robert Plant, Raising Sand, which won six Grammys including "Record Of The Year" and "Album Of The Year."
Alison Krauss and Union Station features the talents of Krauss (fiddle and lead vocals), Dan Tyminski (guitar, mandolin and lead vocals), Barry Bales (bass and harmony vocals), Ron Block (banjo, guitar and harmony vocals), and Jerry Douglas (Dobro and harmony vocals). Paper Airplane was produced by the band and recorded in Nashville with engineer Mike Shipley (Maroon 5, The Cars, Def Leppard, Joni Mitchell). As bluegrass virtuosos the members of Union Station are beyond compare, and the music they create together transcends all genres. Their work on films such as Cold Mountain and O Brother, Where Art Thou? has contributed immeasurably to a renaissance of American roots music.
Part of Alison Krauss' incontestable talent is how effortlessly she bridges the gap between roots music and country, rock and pop. A highly sought-after collaborator, Krauss has worked with some of the biggest names in popular music, including James Taylor, Phish, Dolly Parton, Yo Yo Ma & Bonnie Raitt. Since signing with Rounder Records at the age of 14 in 1985 Krauss has sold in excess of 12 million albums and garnered 26 Grammy® Awards, the most for any female and the third most of any recording artist in Grammy® history.
Alison Krauss and Union Station features the talents of Krauss (fiddle and lead vocals), Dan Tyminski (guitar, mandolin and lead vocals), Barry Bales (bass and harmony vocals), Ron Block (banjo, guitar and harmony vocals), and Jerry Douglas (Dobro and harmony vocals). Paper Airplane was produced by the band and recorded in Nashville with engineer Mike Shipley (Maroon 5, The Cars, Def Leppard, Joni Mitchell). As bluegrass virtuosos the members of Union Station are beyond compare, and the music they create together transcends all genres. Their work on films such as Cold Mountain and O Brother, Where Art Thou? has contributed immeasurably to a renaissance of American roots music.
Part of Alison Krauss' incontestable talent is how effortlessly she bridges the gap between roots music and country, rock and pop. A highly sought-after collaborator, Krauss has worked with some of the biggest names in popular music, including James Taylor, Phish, Dolly Parton, Yo Yo Ma & Bonnie Raitt. Since signing with Rounder Records at the age of 14 in 1985 Krauss has sold in excess of 12 million albums and garnered 26 Grammy® Awards, the most for any female and the third most of any recording artist in Grammy® history.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
82 of 89 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I guess I'm fortunate I still buy CD's and do not download. I went to the Target Store today and purchased the new Alison Krauss and Union Station CD. I bought the last one they had in stock with the 6 Bonus Tracks. I especially love "These Days". It is actually better than some of the other 11 tracks originally released. There are 3 additional new tracks in all, and 3 live performances from their live concert CD from 2003. Tracks I really enjoy from the main 11 songs are, Paper Airplane, My Love Follows You Where You Go (Very Upbeat), Dimming of the Day, Sinking Stone, and My Opening Farewell. Of course, Alison displays that Angelic voice in "Dimming of the Day". This will surely be a major hit. Buy the Target CD, it is very much worth it. All three of the new bonus tracks has Alison on lead.
54 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
(Note: A 17-track version of the album - including three songs that did not make the cut of the standard CD - is available at Target stores as of this writing.)
In the simplest terms, Alison Krauss and Union Station have once again made an immaculate, blissfully crafted record with "Paper Airplane," their first studio release in over six years.
This may be the most notice a Krauss album gets - solo or with Union Station - thanks to the unprecedented success of "Raising Sand," her Grammy-guzzling 2007 collaborative effort with Robert Plant. Happily, this has not given rise to a more commercial sound. There is no noticeable alteration to the gorgeously textured bluegrass palettes or evergreen melodies that are by now synonymous with Krauss and Union Station.
The profoundly beautiful title track is buoyed gently by Krauss's honeysuckle voice, as is the calming lullaby of "Dimming of the Day." The overall sound of the album is more aggressive in tone and feel, however, exemplified by the haunting, pungent "My Love Follows You Where You Go" and "Sinking Stone," which just avoids country music cliches with its end-of-relationship goodbyes thanks to smart, thoughtful lyrics, buttery harmonies and, as always, intense, well-oiled instrumentation.
"Lie Awake," an examination of being stuck at a major crossroads, accentuates the album with a great deal of tension yet, as with quieter selections such as "Lay My Burden Down," the end result is intoxicating - a pleasure for the ears even without considering the lyrics.
Three selections are sung by Union Station member Dan Tyminski with control and a sincere, unstudied quality that is most pleasing. They keep the pulse of the listening experience invigorated and free-flowing. In fact, as a whole the album is a tight, fast-moving one that rounds the bend very quickly. It gives the intended effect and is gone.
Some will say that "Paper Airplane" does not offer insightful, provocative themes or new ground for Alison Krauss or Union Station, and while that is not incorrect that is also not a valid reason to be critical because track by track, the album is close to flawless. It is on par with the best of what these gifted musicians have offered us before, which says a lot. This is not music made for sales' sake but for the pleasure of real music making, and the results handsomely reflect that.
In the simplest terms, Alison Krauss and Union Station have once again made an immaculate, blissfully crafted record with "Paper Airplane," their first studio release in over six years.
This may be the most notice a Krauss album gets - solo or with Union Station - thanks to the unprecedented success of "Raising Sand," her Grammy-guzzling 2007 collaborative effort with Robert Plant. Happily, this has not given rise to a more commercial sound. There is no noticeable alteration to the gorgeously textured bluegrass palettes or evergreen melodies that are by now synonymous with Krauss and Union Station.
The profoundly beautiful title track is buoyed gently by Krauss's honeysuckle voice, as is the calming lullaby of "Dimming of the Day." The overall sound of the album is more aggressive in tone and feel, however, exemplified by the haunting, pungent "My Love Follows You Where You Go" and "Sinking Stone," which just avoids country music cliches with its end-of-relationship goodbyes thanks to smart, thoughtful lyrics, buttery harmonies and, as always, intense, well-oiled instrumentation.
"Lie Awake," an examination of being stuck at a major crossroads, accentuates the album with a great deal of tension yet, as with quieter selections such as "Lay My Burden Down," the end result is intoxicating - a pleasure for the ears even without considering the lyrics.
Three selections are sung by Union Station member Dan Tyminski with control and a sincere, unstudied quality that is most pleasing. They keep the pulse of the listening experience invigorated and free-flowing. In fact, as a whole the album is a tight, fast-moving one that rounds the bend very quickly. It gives the intended effect and is gone.
Some will say that "Paper Airplane" does not offer insightful, provocative themes or new ground for Alison Krauss or Union Station, and while that is not incorrect that is also not a valid reason to be critical because track by track, the album is close to flawless. It is on par with the best of what these gifted musicians have offered us before, which says a lot. This is not music made for sales' sake but for the pleasure of real music making, and the results handsomely reflect that.
68 of 79 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
How can Alison Krauss and Union Station go wrong? Impeccable talents all, their fantastic ensemble skills are very much in evidence here. And of course there's Alison's gorgeous voice. Why then only 3 "It's OK" stars? Well, Alison has set the bar so high over her long career that I just expect much more from her. Her spectacular fiddle skills have largely gone by the wayside since her early hard-core bluegrass days -- a shame, in my opinion -- but I guess somebody decided it's not ladylike for a country diva to wail on the fiddle like her male counterparts might get to do (if there ARE any male counterparts who both sing AND play fiddle as well as she does.) So what we've got here is a beautifully performed but middle-of-the-road album with occasional high moments but, on the whole, a monochromatic effort. Dan Tyminski contributes a few good lead vocals, and Jerry Douglas on dobro is always welcomed. But Alison phones it in. I miss the soulful wailing of "Oh, Atlanta." Overall, the song choice is not inspiring, certainly not as interesting as it has been on albums like SO LONG SO WRONG, for example. And on a great song like Richard Thompson's "Dimming of the Day," the result is pretty, but lackluster. Listen to Bonnie Raitt or Linda Thompson sing this haunting tune and understand its true meaning. It's all there in the poetry, but Alison sounds like her mind was on something else. On a positive note, I kind of like "Sinking Stone," and the last cut, Jackson Browne's "My Opening Farewell," has a message I can relate to.
I've been following Alison's career since she was a teenager and have seen her in person more times than I can count. She's one of my all-time favorite artists. In conjunction with Union Station she has produced some of the finest bluegrass and bluegrass-crossover recordings ever made. Perhaps she's been hanging around Nashville too long. Please Alison, stretch out and return to your roots, if only for a short time, and give us some of that hot fiddle playing that put you on the map, and round up the band for some high and lonesome bluegrass harmonies.
Alison will always be welcome in my home, but PAPER AIRPLANE barely takes off and will, for the most part, be relegated to the hangar (shelf).
I've been following Alison's career since she was a teenager and have seen her in person more times than I can count. She's one of my all-time favorite artists. In conjunction with Union Station she has produced some of the finest bluegrass and bluegrass-crossover recordings ever made. Perhaps she's been hanging around Nashville too long. Please Alison, stretch out and return to your roots, if only for a short time, and give us some of that hot fiddle playing that put you on the map, and round up the band for some high and lonesome bluegrass harmonies.
Alison will always be welcome in my home, but PAPER AIRPLANE barely takes off and will, for the most part, be relegated to the hangar (shelf).
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Paper Airplane - Allison Krause & Union Station
Another great performance! This group cannot do any wrong as far as I'm concerned. This is much like their other stuff, but then again different. Love them!
Published 1 month ago by Chet
Nothing better
I have all of Alison Krauss and Union Stations albums. Everyone is an total joy to list to, this is one of their best!
Published 1 month ago by David L. Fein
Alison Krauss Paper Airplane
This is the kind of quality music one would expect from Alison after her years in the music business. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Denny
Absolutely addictive!
We can't stop listening to this compilation. The voices of both the female lead and the male lead are stellar. I love the way they take turns singing songs. Read more
Published 2 months ago by PartyStock Fine Collectibles set with Swarovski Crystals
pleasing sound creates big smile :)
Alison Kraus has once again compiled and performed an excellent choice of songs for this cd! The varience of music, her beautiful voice & the band's musical talents are prominitely... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dale R. Sandt
Mellow music
The guitar work on this CD is really great. More slow songs than I had expected - but it would help if the lyrics were printed in the cover photos because some of the lyrics are... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Hal M. Kilbourne
My new favorite album....each song is better than the last
I can't stop listening to this album. Track 5 is addictive, but so is track 6. I also love On the Outside Looking In. Read more
Published 2 months ago by D F
Paper Airplane
I am never disappointed with anything involving Allison Krauss. This joint effort with Union Station is by far the best they have done together. Read more
Published 3 months ago by cpatch
Allison is a incredible and the band just keeps getting better
One of the best albums in years and certainly one of the best in 2012. This is a good album for those who have never heard Allison before. Read more
Published 3 months ago by ram
Paper Airplane
I am a huge AKUS fan and have seen them 5 times in concert. I will keep this review short and sweet. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tim McDonough
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
SoundUnwound - the personal music encyclopedia
Passionate about music?
Learn more at SoundUnwound, the personal music encyclopedia, or challenge your friends with our music quizzes.
