This
soundtrack
to the three-hour
Public Television
documentary of the same name chronicles the region's rich musical heritage from
the Carter Family
through
Ricky Skaggs
. It's a harrowing assignment, and while one could argue for days over which
Jimmie Rodgers
song to use -- the producers chose
"Waiting for a Train"
-- they've done a nice job balancing the old and the new, resulting in a listening experience that's infinitely more esoteric than collections' past. Highlights include Kentucky native
Jean Ritchie
's heartbreaking
"West Virginia Mine Disaster,"
the
Alabama Sacred Harp Singers
' reverent and spooky
"Northfield"
and
Paul Burch
's contemporary sepia-toned painting
"Electricity."
Fans of the genre, especially those that like their
old timey
music peppered with equal parts
field recording
and modern stereo-goodness, will find much to love here. ~ James Christopher Monger