Reviews

Sturgill Simpson comes by his bluegrass honestly. Introduced to the style by his paternal grandfather, Simpson emerged a total bluegrass freak by his 20s and was writing bluegrass songs even while making a living playing punk rock. Simpson’s latest CD confirms that passion. In his letter on savingcountrymusic.com explaining his return to his bluegrass roots,…

Amy Gallatin ‘Tis the season Happy Appy Records As have many other musicians over the first three-quarters of this year, Amy Gallatin has spent this quarantine time turning her attention to a oft-considered but long-unfinished project: recording 20 of the tunes she performs in her Christmas shows with the Christmas in New England ensemble and…

Fast Track Fast Track EMG 10370 The self-titled debut CD from Fast Track shows all the mandatory DNA of a modern bluegrass band. Great lead vocals. Refined harmonies. A good mix of original and external tunes that sound and feel mostly like classics. A superstar instrumentalist supported by four top-shelf bluegrass musicians. But do they…

Julie And John Pennell Keep On Walking JPE Records  JPE 0003 The Pennells are partners in life and song. They can move between the various forms of American music with ease. Julie sings in an expressive voice with a clarity that belies the subtly she imbues into each lyric. She and John wrote most of…

Ray Cardwell Just a Little Rain Bonfire Recording Company Anyone who pays more than a little attention to bluegrass music knows that for every band or solo artist who makes it to the “Big Show” there a countless other just as talented who are still out there somewhere waiting in the wings for their time…

Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road Bill Monroe’s Mandolin Pinecastle Records RC1242 Ms. Jordan is a mainstay on the bluegrass scene and her topnotch band delivers strong performances on each cut. Allen Dyer’s lead vocals set the tone along with Ben Greene’s fine banjo playing. Former band member, Josh Goforth shows up on the project playing fiddle…