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 02/2011

    LUCINDA WILLIAMS
    BLESSED

  • reviewed 01/2011

    HUGH BLUMENFELD
    DAD

  • reviewed 10/2008

    JD SOUTHER
    - If the World Was You

  • reviewed 05/2010

    MEKLIT HADERO
    On a Day Like This...

  • reviewed 08/2016

    Cave States
    True Life

  • reviewed 03/2014

    RUN RIVER NORTH
    Run River North

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.