Reviews

FIRESIDE COLLECTIVE LIFE BETWEEN THE LINES No Label No Number Write what you know. Musicians know the road and that’s the stated inspiration behind the 12 original songs on the second album from Fireside Collective. Truth be told, with one or two possible exceptions, it’s hard to hear why these songs couldn’t have been written…

FRONT COUNTRY OTHER LOVE SONGS Organic Records OR16882 With a foundation in traditional music, Front Country has advanced its music skillfully with something they dub “roots pop.” The quintet—Adam Roszkiewicz (mandolin, banjo, vocals), Jacob Groopman (guitar, reso-guitar, mandolin, vocals) Jeremy Darrow (bass), Leif Karlstrom (five-string violin), and Melody Walker (vocals, guitar, percussion)—developed part of its…

RALPH STANLEY II & THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS Stanley Family Records No Number With the passing of Ralph Stanley in 2016, the band name and legacy of the Stanley sound has been handed to Ralph II. That’s a tall order. Adhering to a legendary sound while being yourself musically is not easy. Obviously, Ralph II…

DEAR BROTHER THE HOURS No Label No Number Dear Brother delivers a largely traditional sound with progressive influences on their promising debut The Hours. They packed the album with nine solid originals by fiddler John Duncan and guitarist and lead singer Evan Swink. The title track is as good a newly composed neo-traditional song as…

DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER LIFE IS A STORY Mountain Home MH17012 After nearly four decades (going back to 1979 when he formed Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver following stints with Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe, and the Country Gentlemen) and 40 albums, the ever-prolific Doyle Lawson has sure figured out how to get the job done. His…

JIMMY GAUDREAU AND ELLE MEARS GIVE US STRENGTH Songside Records SR-1701 Bluegrass bands (as do fans of the music, myself included) love to wallow in good old-fashioned weepers and troubled tales of all sorts. That’s what makes this album from Jimmy Gaudreau and Elle Mears a bit different. Call it a positive message album. Quite…