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 05/2007

    Great Lakes Myth Society
    Compass Rose Bouquet

  • reviewed 05/2006

    Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris
    All The Roadrunning

  • reviewed 02/2004

    The Clumsy Lovers
    After the Flood

  • reviewed 01/2011

    HUGH BLUMENFELD
    DAD

  • reviewed 09/2010

    DARDEN SMITH
    Marathon

  • reviewed 12/2009

    JOE SWANK & THE ZEN PIRATES
    HANK WILLIAMS DIED FOR MY SINS

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.