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 04/2006

    Liz Carroll & John Doyle
    In Play

  • reviewed 10/2009

    LYLE LOVETT
    NATURAL FORCES

  • reviewed 04/2017

    Rollie Tussing And The Midwest Territory Band
    Rollie Tussing And The Midwest Territory Band

  • reviewed 03/2005

    Vance Gilbert
    Unfamiliar Moon

  • reviewed 08/2008

    KASEY CHAMBERS & SHANE NICHOLSON
    Rattlin' Bones

  • reviewed 05/2014

    HANNAH ALDRIDGE
    Razor Wire

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.