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 06/2009

    KENDAL CARSON
    Alright Dynamite

  • reviewed 10/2014

    YAEL MEYER
    WARRIOR HEART

  • reviewed 03/2016

    Willie Nile
    World War Willie

  • reviewed 03/2006

    MI & L’AU
    Mi and L'au

  • reviewed 02/2017

    Longboat
    D-(Minus)

  • reviewed 05/2009

    CATHERINE MACLELLAN
    Water in the Ground

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.