Reviewed by Carrie Attebury

The Oxford American Southern C.d. Sampler 2000 is an awesome collection of Bluegrass, Zydeco, Blues, Alternative country and a little gospel music.

"Train That Carried My Girl From Town" is a great bluegrass song. Very upbeat. It's the story of a guy whose girl has left him and he laying all the blame and plotting revenge on the train and the engineer who took her out of town.

The second song on the CD is a pretty good Cajun Zydeco song. "Sometimes We Make You Move Your Feet." Done very well by Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band. There are two things I miss since we moved from Louisiana, the great food and the great music.

"Back To The Crossroads" is an awesome Lyle Lovett-style song done by Todd Snider. Its kind of a laid back shuffle.

"Break My Heart" done by a group called Judybats is a great rock and roll/country song.

"I Love You" done by Asie Payton is a great blues song. It has an awesome guitar and drum accompaniment.

"Louisiana 1927" is a great song done by the famous singer and songwriter Randy Newman.

"Billy The Kid" is sang by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

Kelly Willis has been one of my favorite singers since I heard her great version of the old Sonny James classic "Young Love." Her song on this album, "Whatever Way The Wind Blows" is a great up tempo two step song.

Wilco (with Billy Bragg) do a great job on a song called "When The Roses Bloom Again." "Roses" is a very Bob Dylan or Chris Isaac sounding song.

I have to say my favorite song on the album is "Leaning." A great gospel duet featuring the great Robert Mitchum and the actress Lillian Gish.

"I Know" is a great song that gives us the chance to hear what a great voice the songwriter Kim Richey has. Kim has written many songs including Trisha Yearwood's latest single "Where Are You Now"

"Can't Stop A Train" is an awesome song by a group that is rapidly becoming one of my favorites, "The Derailers." They very much so have the Buck Owens/Bakersfield sound in their music. It's great to hear the old style being revived.

"Grieving My Heart Out Over You" is an oldie-but-goodie sung by Governor Jimmie Davis.

Allison Krauss' "Down In The River To Pray" is undoubtedly the best song on the album. It's an acapella gospel song. I love this song. I have heard Allison sing some great songs but I think this has to be her best.

Song List

• Train That Carried My Girl From Town - "Doc and Merle Watson"
• Sometimes We Make You Want To Move Your Feet -"Keith Frank And The Soileau Zydeco Band"
• Back To The Crossroads - "Todd Snider"
• Break My Heart - "Judy Bats"
• I Love You - "Asie Payton"
• Best In Town - "Hodges Brothers & The Hi Rhythm Section"
• Louisiana 1927 - "Randy Newman"
• The Seventh Son - "Mose Allison"
• Get In Get Out - "Randall Bramblett"
• Billy The Kid - "Tom Petty And The Heart Breakers"
• Whatever Way The Wind Blows - "Kelly Willis"
• When The Roses Bloom Again - "Wilco (with) Billy Bragg"
• Silver Dagger - "Dolly Parton"
• Leaning - "Robert Mitchum and Lillian Gish"
• Hes Got You - "Dean Martin"
• I Know - "Kim Richey"
• Dirty Angels - "Kevin Kinney"
• Southern Casey Jones - "Jesse James"
• Not For The Love Of You Woman - "Ronnie Milsap"
• Castanets - "Alejandro Escovedo"
• Cant Stop A Train - "The Derailers"
• Grieving My Heart Out For You - "Governor Jimmie Davis"
• Down In The River To Pray - "Allison Krauss"