Alison Krauss - Too Late To Cry (1987)

On the surface, Alison Krauss's 1987 Rounder debut is a well-executed, completely satisfying bluegrass album with both traditional and contemporary elements. Once you realize that the sublime singer and expert fiddler you hear is a mere 15 years old, it becomes extraordinary. True, hearing a 15-year-old sing about "my whiskey on ice" and other such mature themes is a bit disconcerting, but what amazes is not what she's singing about but the masterful command she has over her angelic voice. And her fiddle licks are even more impressive. The record simply oozes potential and poise, even if the best was yet to come. --Marc Greilsamer