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 01/2012

    VARIOUS ARTISTS
    Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan

  • reviewed 05/2012

    AARON FLINN
    Miss Ready Blossom and the Seed of Dreams

  • reviewed 11/2016

    Rev. Billy C Wirtz Featuring The Nighthawks
    Full Circle

  • reviewed 09/2011

    DRIFTWOOD FIRE
    How to Untangle a Heartache

  • reviewed 06/2007

    Carolina Chocolate Drops
    Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind

  • reviewed 03/2008

    The Waybacks
    Loaded

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.