KATHY MATTEA

Coal

2008-04-22

Country singer Mattea compiles some of the finest coal mining songs on this CD, bringing the joys and (mostly) sorrows of life in and around the mines to life (with plenty of them about death). The Sago, West Virginia mining disaster of 2006 compelled her to find the right set of songs to convey mining life and the best of them -- such as "The L&N Don't Stop Here No More" (#1), Coal Tattoo (#6) and "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" (#8) -- both educate and entertain. The closer, "Black Lung," is a harrowing a capella number, combined with an instrumental, "Coal." This set may not burn up the spins chart, but is a valuable contribution to the YCE library. 4/08 MJVD F-Traditional

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 08/2007

    JOSH RITTER
    THE HISTORICAL CONQUESTS OF JOSH RITTER

  • reviewed 07/2016

    Eyes Unclouded
    Eyes Unclouded

  • reviewed 09/2009

    LEE HARVEY OSMOND
    A QUIET EVIL

  • reviewed 01/2005

    Amos Lee
    Amos Lee

  • reviewed 02/2017

    Travis Linville
    Up Ahead

  • reviewed 06/2008

    ROBERT FORSTER
    The Evangelist

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.