Reviews

THE LOST PINES SWEET HONEY No Label No Number Lost Pines is a fairly new bluegrass band out of Austin, Tex., that features Talia Bryce on lead and harmony vocals and rhythm guitar, Christian Ward on lead vocals and banjo, Marc Lionetti on harmony vocals and lead guitar, Brian Bass, Shawn Dean, or Jon Kemppainen…

STEVE SPURGIN PAST PERFECT Blue Night Records BNR-221 What a pleasure to hear from Steve Spurgin again. Spurgin, probably best-known from his work with the supergroup California (which included Byron Berline, Dan Crary, John Hickman, and John Moore) and later with Sawmill Road, is a topnotch singer and first-rate songwriter and Past Perfect is a…

BILL EMERSON ECLIPSE Rural Rhythm RUR 1079 From the opening notes of this project, it should be apparent to any long-time fan of bluegrass, it’s always too long in hearing Bill Emerson’s banjo grace a new recording. His sound was integral to the classic early ’70s sound of the Country Gentlemen. Here, we get to…

FROM THE PEN OF LOUISA BRANSCOMB I’LL TAKE LOVE Compass Records 7 4553 2 The seeds for this collection of all original songs by Louisa Branscomb began with a conversation between Branscomb and Claire Lynch at the 2009 IBMA World Of Bluegrass. A long-time musician and songwriter, Branscomb has been prolific, writing songs inspired by…

ALISON KRAUSS + UNION STATION PAPER AIRPLANE Rounder Records 11661-9115-2 Alison Krauss + Union Station fans have been waiting since 2004 for a new release from this stellar outfit. The interim has seen members Dan Tyminski, Ron Block, Barry Bales, and Jerry Douglas pursuing independent projects, but Paper Airplane finds the five of them back…

BRANDON ADAMS HARDEST KIND OF MEMORIES No Label A123 From the opening flurry of flatpicked notes kicking off this album’s initial track, a nimble instrumental called “Roberts Ride,” one can tell that this up-and-coming Kentucky singer, songwriter, and guitarist is a devotee of Tony Rice, but one who won’t leave the harder edges more associated…