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 10/2010

    NEIL YOUNG
    LE NOISE

  • reviewed 04/2008

    Kris Delmhorst
    Shotgun Singer

  • reviewed 01/2008

    CARRIE NEWCOMER
    The Geography of Light

  • reviewed 01/2004

    Richard Thompson
    The Old Kit Bag

  • reviewed 05/2009

    Zach Vinson
    Cracked Open

  • reviewed 08/2012

    ADMIRAL FALLOW
    Tree Bursts in Snow

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.