Prescription Bluegrass Review - Unspoken Tradition - SIMPLE LITTLE TOWN!

I received a CD recently and the title, Simple Little Town, caught my attention. 

Growing up in a small town myself, one where everyone knows each other and multiple generations still sit together in church, I was curious to get this new group’s take on small town life.  After the first track, Unspoken Tradition had my attention. 

Halfway through the project, and I knew the group could write timely lyrics and were solid musicians.  By the end of the CD, I knew this group was serious about Bluegrass and had a sound all their own.

Unspoken Tradition began taking form when founding members Audie McGinnis (guitar/vocals), Lee Shuford (dobro/vocals), and Zane McGinnis (banjo) came together at a picking party in Cherryville, North Carolina.  In 2012, the current line-up took shape with the additions of Matt Warren (upright bass/vocals), Ty Gilpin (mandolin/vocals), and Tim Gardner (fiddle/vocals).  

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews: Holly Norman "Appalachian Angel"

Personally, I enjoy a vocalist with a crystal clear voice and precise intonation, with a tonal character that makes it easy to understand every word.

Holly Norman’s seemingly effortless vocals showcase these characteristics on her brand new release, Appalachian Angel.

As an artistic offering, it is my view that Appalachian Angel, though supported almost entirely by traditional Bluegrass instrumentation, would not likely meet most purists’ criteria for ‘true’ Bluegrass, though it’s earthy, country-Americana flavor would hardly compel them to marginalize its merits. And, though it doesn’t quite have the ‘feel’ of traditional Bluegrass, it does have the heart.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews Brooke Foster - Bringing Back The Memories!

From the first note of Bringing Back The Memories, there is no doubt that Brooke Foster has put her heart and soul into this CD. This is Brooke’s first CD and she has done a very good job of selecting songs that not only compliment her voice but also give listeners a variety from traditional bluegrass to gospel to familiar country remakes.

While many of us may not know the name Brooke Foster, she is no stranger to the bluegrass world. She has spent the last two seasons entertaining at Renfro Valley and during that time has opened for Melvin Goins & Windy City, performed with American Drive as well as Wendy Miller.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews The Velvet Blue - Memories & Heartaches

_________________________________Reviewed by: W.J. Hallock 

When this CD arrived, I had no idea who this band was……. the only recognizable name was Steve Gulley, who produced and engineered this release at The Curve Recording Studio, Cumberland Gap, TN.

Steve also sings some harmony, plays some guitar and wrote the opening song, “I Think I’d Rather Fall.” As a fan of Steve’s song-writing, I was immediately drawn to listen to the first song, which is the only one Steve wrote on this project.

With my old ears, I tend to listen to music one way…. LOUD! After I listen to music in my truck, I always try to remember to turn the volume back down, that way I don’t scare myself to death when I put something new into the CD player.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews - Idletymes—POOR MOUNTAIN HOME

Sometimes, it is challenging to decide which ‘measuring stick’ to use when evaluating the work of a group that is between the subjective parameters of being a very good regional group and those of a professional-level band that measures up to the artistic characteristics and standards expected by not only the critics, but also those of the paying consumer.

“Poor Mountain Home” bounces between those criteria. On the one hand, there are tracks where the standards could have been a bit higher.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews - Larry Efaw & the Bluegrass Mountaineers - SHE LEFT ME STANDING ON A MOUNTAIN

This CD features genuine old-time, traditional Bluegrass music presented in a way most aficionados of that genre would appreciate.

The core sound is strongly reminiscent of Stanley Brothers recordings and, to a lesser degree, Larry Sparks and Bill Monroe.

Tom Isaac’s banjo playing is strong and the overall rhythm and feel is steady, correct and even a little pushy, at times—with emphasis on a Ralph Stanley-ish type of drive, as opposed to more modern rhythmic incarnations, such as that performed by many post-modern groups like Alison Kraus, for example. The harmonies are tight and the lead vocals are well-placed and well-suited for the chosen material.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews Finnders & Youngberg - I DON’T WANT LOVE YOU WON’T GIVE UNTIL I CRY

I love it when I’m not expecting a new CD from an artist that I really like and a new one magically appears at my door.

Finnders and Youngberg’s new music arrived and it was in my CD player immediately! I was very impressed with their last release, so I knew that this one was going to be good…….. and it has lived up to all my expectations, and beyond. 

The song writing is top shelf, the vocals are warm, expertly sung and expressive, the pickin’ is outrageously good, the personality and charisma of each player lights up the tracks, and it is recorded, mixed and mastered with an artistic and technical savvy. There isn’t a weak spot on the entire CD, and all that was evident after just one listening!

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews Laurel River Line - FARTHER DOWN THE LINE

A number of groups have recently been releasing some very good Bluegrass music and Laurel River Line is no exception.

The band’s second project Farther Down The Line, which was produced by Randy Jones of Lonesome River Band, is something that almost every listener will enjoy.

It is straight forward Bluegrass from the first song and does not let up until the last song is complete. Laurel River Line gives listeners tight harmonies and hard-driving instrumentation.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews - ARAGON MILL by Si Kahn & The Looping Brothers

I have just returned to Ireland after showcasing my own material in Raleigh, NC, at IBMA. I also got to hear about a hundred other bands, and my head is still ringing in the key of “G”, after hearing so many versions of “Goldrush” and “Clinch Mountain Backstep.”

Wonderful and all as these Classic Bluegrass tunes are, it's refreshing to get to listen to a Bluegrass CD that is comprised of fifteen original songs, in a great variety of different keys, and sung by a man in what could be fairly described as a 'non-Bluegrass' voice.

Si Kahn is a legend in songwriting circles, and is probably best known, certainly in Europe, for his classic, “Aragon Mill,” which seems to have been around for so long, that many knowledgeable folks around these parts consider it to be an old Traditional song. This is a kind of reverse compliment in one way, but not one, I'm fairly sure, that appeals to Mr. Kahn, or his performing rights society/publisher, in this case, Conexion-media.com, when it comes to the collection of royalties. But that's another story.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews RAMBLE ON from The Dirty River Ramblers

Ramble On is the debut recording project of the Dirty River Ramblers, from the Omaha, Nebraska area, and features ten original pieces, including three instrumentals.

A quick glance at the cover art suggests they are perhaps a traditional Bluegrass group, but, in fact, they sound more like a quasi-mix of Old-time, jam-band, folk, southern rock-ish with a prevailing old-time feel.

This effort is not likely to spawn accolades for spectacular musicianship or particularly strong vocal talents, though both are adequate and pleasant and some of the lead singing (not sure who sings where) is strong and somewhat above average.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews: Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road

You’re gonna love this CD! It’s as simple as that….. This twelve song release on Pinecastle Records is a solid musical endeavor bound to win Lorraine and the boys new fans. With power house vocalists and exceptional instrumentalists, they have all their bluegrass bases covered. Six original songs make a very strong statement as to how prolific this band can be, and the six cover songs are all well chosen and thought out as to how well they fit the band’s direction.

Lorraine wrote two of her songs with Terry Foust, “Livin’ Like I’m Dying,” which she also sings lead on, and “Hold Me One More Time.” She definitely needs to write more often with Mr. Foust! Both songs are cohesive lyrically and melodically, and, more important, they’re memorable and catchy. Her own “Bluegrass Barn,” sung by Tommy Long, is one her long time bluegrass fans are going to enjoy.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews O WINDING RIVER from The Stetson Family

You can imagine my curiosity when I received a package from Melbourne, Australia with a note requesting consideration for review.

I truly had no idea what Australia’s version of Bluegrass would sound like or if it would even resemble my idea of Bluegrass.

I admit, I am open-minded about all genres of music and, in the case of Bluegrass, will not dismiss something just because it does not fit a preconceived mold. Although, in the case of this project, it is Bluegrass with a lean towards, what I would consider, a string band or folk sound.

O Winding River, the latest release by The Stetson Family, who are not blood relatives at all but rather five friends who, through circumstances that could in itself be the backdrop of a song, came together to share a common love of Bluegrass and American roots music.