Search - Cox Family :: Beyond the City

A delightful and purely American sound

Robert J. Morris | Macungie, PA USA | 12/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Discovered the marvelous sound of the Cox Family when I heard their sad and haunting "I am Weary" on the O Brother CD. If that song has led you to this review I recommend you give this album a try, you won't be disappointed.This CD travels up and down the emotional scale, and every song translates into exactly what the Cox Family wants it to. There is much more than playing the music and singing the words here, the Cox' have a way of getting inside of the listner with their music - you understand what they're feeling when they play. I especially like the songs with Suzanne in the lead vocal posititon, particularly "Lovin'You" and "Blue Bayou", she can touch your soul with her voice. That said, two of my favorite cuts on the album are led by Evelyn and Willard.Alison Krauss produced and arranged here, you can feel her talent throughout. The Union Station guys lend instrumental support and that's always to the good - you'll hear Krauss' fiddle on a few songs too. But this album is about the Cox Family, and you'll be missing some high quality bluegrass/country music if you pass it up.Maybe the best endorsement of the Cox Family comes from Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, he's quoted on the back of the CD jacket: "The first time I heard the Cox Family . . .was about as beautiful a piece of country music as I'd heard in years." Perfect description."

Simply the best!

beth wendling | 11/28/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The harmonies this band produces are amongst the finest I have ever heard. Being from the arena rock generation I have been looking for thought provoking, well executed music to enjoy. The Cox Family qualifies. Their music is a kind of mix between blues, bluegrass and country. Their music touches my soul. A rare occurance these days!"

Quality bluegrass from brilliant family group

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 01/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The family look miserable on the cover picture but don't let that put you off. The Cox family are well respected within the bluegrass community and this album, produced by Alison Krauss, shows why. Most of the songs are covers though Cowboy's dream and the title track were co-written by Sidney Cox.The most famous song here is Blue bayou, which was a sixties pop hit for Roy Orbison and a seventies pop hit for Linda Ronstadt. I'm pleased that the Cox family adapted it to bluegrass although I still prefer the other two versions. Loving you also dates from the sixties, being originally written and recorded by the Lovin' spoonful. Lizzie and the rain man was an American pop and country hit in the seventies for Tanya Tucker. I don't know the origin of another lonesome morning, but the Cox family probably got if from Cimarron, one of Emmylou's albums. The other covers are Cotton Dan (Claude King), I'll be all smiles tonight (Carter family), Beautiful bouquet (Rose Maddox), Little birdie (a very old, traditional song), Streets of gold (Ronnie Milsap) and Broken engagement (Webb Pierce).If you enjoy great bluegrass music, especially the early stuff by Alison Krauss, you'll love this."