Reviews

DAVE ADKINS NOTHING TO LOSE Mountain Fever Records MFR140311 Kentucky-based vocalist Dave Adkins spent several years working in country and rock bands. So finding such colorations in his delivery on this forceful album of country and traditional and contemporary-style bluegrass tunes is not surprising. We are the heirs of our past, and for Adkins his…

THE HARPER FAMILY THROUGH IT ALL Pisgah Ridge PR14972    As has been said about many family groups featuring young players, the Harper Family continues to sharpen their overall sound. By now though, the Harpers have moved beyond the “leap forward” stage and are in more of a “honing and refining” stage. In other words,…

DRY BRANCH FIRE SQUAD THE GOSPEL WAY No Label No Number Though billed as a companion to Don’t Forget The Song that Dry Branch Fire Squad is releasing simultaneously, The Gospel Way needs no pairing to be fully enjoyed. Both were recorded at the same session and used similar recording techniques, but one doesn’t necessarily…

BILL EMERSON AND SWEET DIXIE DANCIN’ ANNIE Rural Rhythm Records RUR-1117 Along about track seven of this the fourth recording made for Rural Rhythm Records by Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie, the band hits a three-song stretch that gives the album a lift. Seven songs in might seem late in the tracking for such a…

THE KRÜGER BROTHERS REMEMBERING DOC Double Time Music DTM-025 Doc Watson cast a long shadow and influenced many more people than most folks might realize. He was one-of-a-kind, a leader, and a spiritual father to generations of musicians. His presence, his skill, and his long career touched musicians far and wide. His influence on the…

DRY BRANCH FIRE SQUAD DON’T FORGET THIS SONG No Label No Number This is the secular side of two Dry Branch Fire Squad CDs recorded at the same session and released simultaneously. Buy one or buy both. Each will stand on its own merits; merits that become obvious from the opening track. Up first is…