Album: Windy City

Background
"Windy City" is the 5th solo studio album by American bluegrass-country singer-songwriter Alison Krauss, released on February 17, 2017. The album was produced by Nashville veteran Buddy Cannon, known for his deal with artists like Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, and George Strait. This significant Krauss' first solo release considering that her 2007 album "A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection" and her very first studio album considering that her effective cooperation with Robert Plant on 2011's "Raising Sand". "Windy City" includes ten cover songs from classic country and bluegrass artists, such as Brenda Lee, Willie Nelson, and Bill Monroe.

Reception
"Windy City" was met widespread critical acclaim. Media outlets like Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and AllMusic lauded the album for its stripped-down, conventional noise that allowed Krauss' voice to take spotlight. Critics praised the handpicked tune selection that showcased Krauss' capability to reinterpret the classics in her own unique way. The album debuted at top on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and ranked high in the folk, bluegrass, and country charts worldwide.

The album likewise gathered two nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards-- Best Country Solo Performance for the track "Losing You" and Best American Roots Performance for "I Never Cared for You". Although Krauss did not take home either award, her combined total of 27 Grammy Awards still stands as the most by any female artist in history.

Tracklist Highlights
1. Losing You-- Originally performed by Brenda Lee in 1963, this track marks a psychological opener for the album. Krauss' voice is haunting as she provides the story of heartbreak and loss, and her emotive efficiency sets the tone for the rest of the album.

2. I Never Cared for You-- A Willie Nelson cover, this song was not a hit when it was first released in 1964. Nevertheless, Krauss' performance revives the track with a dreamy, almost psychedelic feel that is both fresh and ageless.

3. It's Goodbye and So Long to You-- This positive track, initially by The Osborne Brothers, features Krauss harmonizing with her tight-knit backing band, Union Station, creating a happy and energetic atmosphere.

4. Poison Love-- Originally taped by Bill Monroe in 1951, Krauss' version is a sultry take on the bluegrass classic. Her fiddle playing and bluesy singing inflections include a seductive aspect to the tale of toxic love.

5. Windy City-- The title track, composed by Pete Goble, is a mournful but stunning homage to Chicago. Krauss' voice is tender and vulnerable as she sings about the isolation of the city and how it mirrors her own heartbreak.

Conclusion
"Windy City" is an unique record in Alison Krauss' discography, enabling the vocalist to showcase her roots in bluegrass and country through the interpretation of well-chosen classics. Although it is a covers album, Krauss' emotive voice and arrangements offer brand-new life to these tunes, proving her lasting effect as a vocalist and artist in the world of music. The album's several Grammy nominations and chart success talk to its accomplishment as both a critical and industrial hit.