A few years after the intriguing duet album Raising Sands with Robert Plant, singer and violinist Alison Krauss returns to her bluegrass roots with her trusted band Union Station. The production of the album Paper Airplane was a bit difficult; the song selection and even the gathering of the excellent musicians with their successful solo careers. The title song by 'house song writer' Robert Lee
… Castleman marked the positive change. This song, based on the difficult times that Krauss went through at the time, is portrayed in a moving manner by the singer with her light, vulnerable voice. Trials and melancholy are the song themes, alternately played by Krauss and guitarist Dan Timynski (George Clooney's 'singing voice' in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou). Roughly Krauss provides the reflective note and the band is nice and loose with Timynski, which works well. After some very strong songs in the beginning, the second half of the album does not last as long. Paper Airplane may not become a classic, but it remains a pleasant and well-made record full of organic and authentic bluegrass. (SvdP)more
