Alison Krauss on CMT

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 22 Feb 2003 7:47 am

I couldn't let this event pass without some comment.

I was eagerly awaiting this broadcast and, from a musical standpoint, I wasn't disappointed. She sings like an angel, and the musicianship of everyone on stage is quite remarkable - Alison's vocal on 'Atlanta' (in particular) was stunning.

I sat there, remote in hand, editing out not only the commercials, but also the mind-numbingly stupid and inane ramblings of that dreadful girl, Katie Cook(sp?) - there is no-one on television who irritates me more! She seems to have had some sort of 'sincerity bypass', and it's clear to me that she cares nothing for, and knows precious little about, the music she's priviledged to present. She's obsessed with the notion of her own 'celebrity', and puntuates her inanities with that awful nervous giggle.

When I'm watching the 'Opry', I automatically 'mute' her out. I know I'll miss nothing of importance as she poses her predictable and unimaginative 'questions' to some denim-clad refugee from VH-1 or the nether-reaches of what passes for country music today.

To let her loose on last night's programme was a travesty, and disrespectful to the music. I'd have loved to hear what Alison and the guys in the band had to say about it all afterwards - Ms Krauss and Ms Cook are cut from very different cloth, and I can't imagine that Alison enjoyed the pointless intrusion of the programme's format.

As I did my own editing, I can tell you that the ninety minutes that the concert ran for on TV contained just forty-one minutes of music....

Does she drive anyone else nuts, or am I just too old and grouchy?

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Roger Rettig
[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 22 February 2003 at 07:55 AM.]

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 22 Feb 2003 8:01 am

Katie Cook(sp?) - there is no-one on television who irritates me more!

You've never seen Bill O'Reilly, have you?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 22 Feb 2003 9:17 am

Bubble headed blonde.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 22 Feb 2003 2:31 pm

Got to agree with you,Alison dose sing like an angel!Great show!As a dobro player I'm also a big Jerry Douglas fan.Are you sure that "Katie" is not an android or some other
emotionless creature? I also had my finger firmly planted on the mute button whenever she spoke!

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Larry Robbins
GFI-s 10
Morrell lap steel,Reagl 75 dobro and Marshall half stack(I know,I know)

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 22 Feb 2003 3:29 pm

You are not alone:
http://www.petitiononline.com/cmt/petition.html

Bob

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 22 Feb 2003 7:58 pm

You've never seen Bill O'Reilly, have you?

I haven't...and now I think I won't

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 22 Feb 2003 8:01 pm

I signed it, Bob. Told them to run more Austin City Limits shows. The older ones.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 22 Feb 2003 9:53 pm

Thanks for the 'heads up', Bob - I just added my comments (an abridged version of my 'post' above) to the petition; it's a relief to know that I'm not the only 'old and grouchy' one out there.

I'm intrigued now - who IS Bill O'Reilly? He can't be worse than KC! Lame as I find Cletus, at least he sends himself up, although that dreadful stereotyped 'hillbilly' twang that he affects (he DOES just put that on, doesn't he?) is tiresome.

Damn it, the whole channel is tiresome - there's just nowhere else to see any kind of country music, so we're trapped....

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Roger Rettig

Chris Allen Burke · Post by **Chris Allen Burke** » 27 Feb 2003 10:06 am

Thank you for your observations. I have been a pro in the country music field for quite a while and have seen this trend approching for some time. The promotions end are trying to compete with the low-band brains of hip-hop and fashion. Forgetting and/or ignoring so often the value of musicality pure talent and the quintisential element of country music, the song. The brainless spokesmodel fits right into the cell phone chick n' dude audience they think they appealing to. However, what they haven't figured out yet is how to contain and market the music of the soul. But to their credit occasionaly they get lucky. One of several reasons Alison Krauss has stayed with Rounder for so many years. Melody is alive and melody and harmony as well as rhythm will always find a place, as well as a market. Look deeper in this country and you will find it. My advise, to quote John Prine, Blow up yer TV.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 27 Feb 2003 10:25 am

http://www.cmt.com/cmt/request/katiecook.jhtml

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 27 Feb 2003 12:36 pm

No wonder . . . her first impression of a country star was Crystal Gayle . . . that explains her inability to tell the difference between country and pop. She does have a bit more roots than I'd expected, however.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 27 February 2003 at 12:38 PM.]

VERNON PRIDDY · Post by **VERNON PRIDDY** » 27 Feb 2003 1:50 pm

Can't Stand To Watch Katie And Some Of Them She Is Talking To. All In The Same Boat.I Play Old Country Music Real Country. SONNY.

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SONNYPRIDDY

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 27 Feb 2003 1:55 pm

I'm not an Alison or Katie fan!

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 27 Feb 2003 2:54 pm

Unfortunately, I taped the show, so the commercials are fast-forwarded when I watch. Best I can tell, 11 -12 of them each break.

AK+US are the best sounding - vocally and musically, performing today. I've seen them in person, and can say they are the best live performing group I've seen. [This message was edited by Kenny Davis on 27 February 2003 at 07:51 PM.]

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 27 Feb 2003 5:32 pm

I can't believe it! I've just read that piece on Katie Cook - she's almost English!!!! I did a couple of sessions years ago for her Dad - the Cook/Greenaway team - when I was still in the UK. I don't suppose I'll get any more calls now I've written all that about his daughter...

Chris - well put! I can sort-of accept Ms Cook presenting the average 'hat act', or some of this latest crop of indifferent singers who make no effort to dress for a performance - I feel they belong together - but seeing her juxtaposed with the best artiste and band of the last ten years (my view, anyway) was too jarring for me. It was somehow irreverent.

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Roger Rettig

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 28 Feb 2003 7:20 am

Theresa,
I'm a bit surprised to hear you say you don't care for Alison Krauss. In all honesty, I believe you are the first person I've ever heard say that. Is it just because she doesn't use Paul on her sessions?

(just funnin' you)

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 1 Mar 2003 12:13 am

Larry,
Sorry, I slipped on my postive side of thinking. Alison is a bit to nasal for my taste in singing! I don't understand what she's saying in her songs most the time.
She's used Paul before or should I say she's overdubed on Keith Whitley's and other artist. It doesn't matter, I'm not a fan of her's! [This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 01 March 2003 at 12:23 AM.]

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 1 Mar 2003 6:34 am

Allison is great, but the blonde has to go. I really don't think she has a handle on music at all. I am surprised she can even function in life. She is sure a long way from Lorrianne Crook and Ralph Emery.

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 1 Mar 2003 7:32 am

Theresa, isn't Del McCoury still your favorite performer?