Once as rare a sight as J-Lo in a burqa, women have been assuming a higher profile in bluegrass since Alison Krauss arrived on the scene in 1987. Men still dominate, but O Sister proves women have made contributions every bit as important as those of male artists in the past decade. The 19 cuts here show a remarkable diversity of styles under the contemporary bluegrass rubric while also demonstrating each artist's solid sense of the music's roots. Wilma Lee Cooper's remorseless scolding of the man who done her wrong on "You Tried to Ruin My Name" typifies an adherence to a more rustic style that not only serves her well but also provides a compelling template for Delia Bell's heartbreaking waltz, "Sad Situation," and Lynn Morris's warm reading of Hazel Dickens's sepia-toned riscence, "Mama's Hand." Dickens shows off her own robust pipes on her rousing kiss-off song, "I Can't Find Your Love Any More," and on a stunning duet with Alice Gerrard of Bill Monroe's lowdown "True Life Blues." Rhonda Vincent, Alison Krauss, and the Cox Family represent a contemporary rethinking of the ancient tones by embracing pop arrangements and production, but it's done so subtly as to be almost subliminal in effect. The Cox Family's yearning, lilting spiritual, "Will There Be Any Stars," rides easy on the graceful, western-style twin fiddling of producer Alison Krauss and the Family's Andrea Zonn and the stark banjo solos of Union Station's Ron Block supporting Suzanne Cox's fragile, expressive lead vocal. Vincent tears down the house on her "Lonesome Wind Blues," with its engaging instrumental byplay and high-lonesome harmonizing on the tuneful choruses. Krauss is a constant presence her impact apparent in the signature sound other artists have adopted as a producer as well as an artist. In the latter role she's represented by one of her most memorable recordings, "Every You Say Goodbye" (from the like-titled album), but in a real sense O Sister is all about what Alison Krauss has wrought. Claire Lynch, Suzanne Thomas, Kathy Kallick with Laurie Lewis, Lynn Morris, the Stevens Sisters, Ginny Hawker and Carol Elizabeth Jones, and Phyllis Boyens round out the lineup, and there isn't a bad song or an ill-considered turn of phrase to be heard among 'em. Makes a man want to holler, "O brother!"

1. If Wishes Were Horses - Claire Lynch,
2. Silver Tongue and Gold Plated Lies - Suzanne Thomas,
3. Sad Situation - Delia Bell,
4. True Life Blues - Hazel Dickens/Alice Gerrard,
5. Lonesome Wind Blues - Rhonda Vincent,
6. Pardon Me - The Cox Family,
7. Old River - Ginny Hawker/Hazel Dickens,
8. You Tried to Ruin My Name - Wilma Lee Cooper,
9. I Can't Find Your Love Any More - Hazel Dickens,
10. Just Like Rain - Kathy Kallick/Laurie Lewis,
11. Mama's Hand - Lynn Morris,
12. Every You Say Goodbye - Alison Krauss,
13. Blue - Stevens Sisters,
14. Is Winding Up - Carol Elizabeth Jones/Ginny Hawker,
15. Big Wind - Laurie Lewis Blow,
16. Will There Be Any Stars - Alison Krauss/The Cox Family,
17. The - Phyllis Boyens Last Old Shovel,
18. Comin' Down from God - Carol Elizabeth Jones,
19. Eight More Miles - Claire Lynch/Laurie Lewis/Lynn Morris/Rhonda Vincent



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